AUSTRALIA. Sydney: Jadeja’s four wickets haul helped India to come back after Smith’s classic century on the second day of the third test match between India and Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground(SCG) today. Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith were batting well in the first hour of the day. However, after their departure, the last eight Australian wickets fell for just 132 runs.
Australian score was folded on 338 runs with Indian bowler Jadeja scalping four wickets. Along with Jadeja’s bowling, his brilliant run out to Centurian Smith was the main highlight of the day. In reply to the Australian innings, Indian batsmen made 98 runs with the loss of two wickets, with Captain Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara on the crease.
Australian innings
Australian innings began strongly when both last night not out batsmen, Labuschagne and Smith, scored freely. the duo took the Australian score past 200 with just two wickets down. Captain Rahane then gave the ball to Jadeja who soon broke the partnership of the Australian batsmen when he removed Labuschagne at the slip for 91. Rahane took a very sharp catch at slip. Matthew Wade came in after Labuschagne’s departure. However, he soon joined him in the pavilion. When the second new ball was just three overs away, Wade skied a lofted shot off Jadeja and was caught at mid-wicket.
With a new ball in hand, Jasprit Bumrah began to zip and move the ball to trouble the Australian middle order.
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He set up both Cameron White and Tim Paine with away going deliveries before bringing the ball in. White was trapped in front for 21 balls duck and Paine was clean bowled for 1. With some contributions from lower-order batsmen, Smith managed to take Australian score past 300 and scored his 27th Test century.
India’s reply
After Australia’s innings, the Indian openers began to bat very confidently. Rohit Sharma made his presence felt when he pulled Hazelwood for four runs. Youngster Shubhman Gill showed his class once again. He was batting effortlessly and his straight drive to Mitchell Starc was a treat to watch. However, the 70 runs partnership between the duo soon came to an end when Sharma was caught and bold by Hazelwood. Soon Gill also joined Sharma when he was caught out at gully on the bowling of Cummins. Gill scored a brilliant half-century. After their departure, Rahane and Pujara took the rein into their own hands. The pair defended the balls with straight bats in the last hour without bothering the run rate. The test is now evenly poised with India trailing behind Australia by 242 runs with 8 wickets remaining.
Brief Score: Australia: 338 all out ( S.Smith 131, M.Labuschagne 91, R.Jadeja 4/62) India: 96/2 ( C.Pujara 9 not out, A.Rahane 5 not out, P.Cummins 1/19)
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