Melbourne, December 28: India have put themselves in a commanding position at the end of the third day's play in the Boxing Day Test by taking a massive 346 run lead over Australia here on Friday (December 28).
At the end of the day's play, India were 54/5 in their second innings with Mayank Agarwal (28*) and Rishabh Pant (6*) present into the middle after Pat Cummins (4/10) rattled India's top-order in the second innings. Overall 15 wickets fell in the day's play that was dominated by India.
Indian bowlers performed exceptionally well on day three as they restricted a lacklustre Australian batting line-up for 151 with Jasprit Bumrah returning with his career-best figures of 6/33. India took a massive 292-run lead by virtue of their first innings total of 443/7.
3rd Test, Day 2, Highlights: Pujara century helps India stay on top in Melbourne | As it Happened | Don't need to silence anyone when I play international cricket: Pujara
Australia resumed their innings from 8 without loss on Day 3 after their openers played six nervy overs at the end of the second day's play. It was going to be a test of character for Aaron Finch and the rest of the Aussie batsmen but none of them rose to the occasion despite spending crucial time into the middle. Bumrah was complemented well by the rest of the Indian pacers while comeback man Ravindra Jadeja once again proved his worth as he picked up two wickets and did the bulk of the bowling on a hot summer day.
Day 3: As it happened:
This day belonged to two pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Pat Cummins. Bumrah grabbed six wickets in the first innings while Pat Cummins rattled India's top-order in the second innings by picking up 4 wickets in his fiery spell and must have put the Indians question their decision of not choosing to impose follow-on. Mayank Agarwal - 28* and Rishabh Pant - 6* will resume India's innings on Day 4.
Stumps Day 3! An exciting day's play comes to an end as 15 wickets fell in all. India - 54/5 in second innings, lead Australia by 346 runs.
Tim Paine continues his chatter from behind the stumps as Rishab Pant bats against Lyon. The Aussie skipper is trying his best to distract the young India batsman. India - 48/5 after 26 overs.
Wicket! Rohit Sharma too joins his teammates in the pavilion as he too departs for 4. He was trying to cut Josh Hazlewood but ended up giving a thick edge and Shaun Marsh had no trouble pouching him at first slip. India 44/5.
India are 44/4 after 22 overs.
Wicket! What is happening out there??? India have lost their fourth wicket in no time and Pat Cummins is wreaking havoc at the MCG. Ajinkya Rahane departs for 1 as Paine takes a good catch behind the stumps. India are 28/4 now.
Gosh, Rahane falls too. Cummins is playing havoc with the Indian batting. Kohli woukd be wondering if he should have enforced the follow on
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) December 28, 2018
Wicket! Kohli too departs for duck! Soft-dismissal for Indian captain as he too gets caught in the same area like Pujara. Two wickets in this over for Pat Cummins. He's on fire. India are 30/3.
Out! A duck for Kohli too. He's fallen for the exact same trap as Pujara. Cummins has 3-2
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 28, 2018
📺 Watch LIVE on Fox Cricket & 📰 join our match centre: https://t.co/1X1BKu1snw #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/aoFIf6cU8V
Wicket! Cheteshwar Pujara is back into the pavilion without scoring as he's brilliantly set up by Pat Cummins. The batsman flicked the pacer down the leg side but finds Marcus Harris at short fine-leg. India - 28/2.
Wicket! Hunuma Vihari (13) departs in almost similar fashion in the second innings like first innings. Short-pitched bouncer from Pat Cummins which took a leading edge from the bat and Usman Khawaja pouches it at gully. India - 28/1 in 13 overs.
India 18/0 after 6 overs in their second innings as the lead swells by 310 runs.
Hanuma Vihari and Mayank Agarwal begin India's batting in second innings. Mitchell Starc starts proceedings with the new ball for Australia.
Hanuma Vihari and Mayank Agarwal begin India's batting in second innings. Mitchell Starc starts proceedings with the new ball for Australia.
Bumrah produces his career-best effort in this game. This is his third fifer in Test cricket. Captain Kohli doffs his cap off to Bumrah.
Virat Kohli doffing his hat to Jasprit Bumrah in recognition of the quick’s superb 6/33. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/jPckFyp0NY
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) December 28, 2018
Wicket! That's it! Australia have been bundled out for 151 as they trail India by 292 runs. Jasprit Bumrah returns with an impressive six-for. India have not decided to impose a follow-on.
Wicket! Boom-Boom Bumrah is on 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 as he completes another fifer by trapping Nathan Lyon in front for a duck. Australia - 151/9 in 66.2 overs.
Wicket! Jasprit Bumrah gets his fourth wicket of the innings as Tim Paine is caught behind the stumps by Rishabh Pant. The Australian captain departs for 22. Australia - 147/8. They now stare at a follow-on. Rishabh Pant has surpassed Syed Kirmani and MS Dhoni's wicketkeeping record.
Rishabh Pant now becomes the first Indian wicket-keeper to claim 18 catches in a Test series.
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 28, 2018
This is just his 3rd Test of the series!
Syed Kirmani (in 6 matches) and MS Dhoni (in 5 matches) have taken 17 each.#AusvInd#AusvsInd
Paine and Starc are once again back into the middle for the final session of the day, they need 99 more to avoid follow-on. Aus - 145/7
It's tea time at MCG! Australia are 145/7 and trail India by 298 runs. Another dominating session from India as they've picked up 3 wickets in 30 overs in this one.
Tea time here at the MCG on Day 3 as Australia move to 145/7. Australia trail by 298 runs. Join us for the final session of play in a bit #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/VuZjKeoUon
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 28, 2018
Wicket! Mohammed Shami completes 100 Test wickets outside India as he cleans up Pat Cummins for 17. Australia are 138/7 in 61 overs.
Mohd Shami 10th Indian (& 5th paceman) to take 100 away wickets!
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 28, 2018
at home: 40 (11 Tests)
away: 100 (28 Tests)#AusvInd#AusvsInd
India lose their first review as their decision to upstairs for LBW against Paine gets wasted. Ball tracking showed that it was missing the wickets.
Not out! Clearing the stumps.
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 28, 2018
Paine survives
📺 Watch LIVE on Fox Cricket & 📰 join our match centre: https://t.co/1X1BKu1snw #AusvInd pic.twitter.com/g7OSiFHxUf
Last time Australia were given a follow-on in Australia was way back in 1988 by England at Sydney. Will Kohli's men be able to repeat it here?
Australia are 124/6 after 55 overs, trail India by 318 runs. The hosts need to score another 119 runs to avoid a follow-on.
51 overs have been bowled and Australia are 121/6 against India. They still trail by 322 runs.
Dropped! Pat Cummins gets a breather as Rishabh Pant fails to glove him behind the stumps on the first ball delivered by Hanuma Vihari. Pant rose too early from his position behind the stumps and failed to hold on to the nick.
Runs are not coming in easily for the Aussies but Paine (8*) and Cummins (2*) are showing some resistance.
Australia's lower order has been exposed now. It's important that the Indians get rid of the tail quickly as well.
Wicket! Ravindra Jadeja gets his second breakthrough as Mitchell Marsh departs for 9. The batsman edged it and Ajinkya Rahane pouched it comfortably at first slip. Aus - 102/6.
100 comes up for Australia with a boundary from Mitchell Marsh. Aus - 101/5 in 42 overs.
Shami is brought into the attack. Australia - 97/5 after 40 overs.
Sensational stuff from Bumrah!
Bumrah’s been brilliant today. In fact can’t remember him having a bad day all year! Not just high pace and awkward bounce, but also subtle changes in pace and length that make him dangerous.
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) December 28, 2018