Australia v India, third test, day three
- by Grant Boone
- in Sports
- — Jan 9, 2021
Australia have posted a healthy first innings score in the 3 test in Sydney after electing to bat first on a belter of a wicket.
Steven Peter Devereux Smith was taking his game to another level and was looking set to take the total to 400 but Ravindra Jadeja's direct hit from behind the square leg at the batsman's end where Steven Smith was trying to complete his second run saw the batsman short of his crease.
Incidentally, the "Monkeygate" episode during India's 2007-'08 tour of Australia also took place during the Sydney Test.
It followed Vihari being brilliantly run out before lunch, attempting a run that wasn't there, with Hazlewood diving and throwing the ball in one movement.
By the close of play, Steve Smith (29 batting) and Marnus Labuschagne (47 batting) gave an exhibition of how to bat on slow tracks with Australia reaching 103 for two. He also forced Matthew Wade to commit an error before Jasprit Bumrah struck immediately with the new ball to remove Cameron Green, who was left exposed to the new ball by Wade. The former captain was far more effusive in his celebration than usual reflecting the relief at having scored his first century in 15 innings spanning four series.
Then Mitchell Starc (24) struck some lusty blows towards the end. Nathan Lyon was also out for a duck, trapped by Jadeja to reduce the hosts to 315-9.
Labuschange fell to Ravindra Jadeja and thereafter there was a batting collapse. While he is receiving treatment for injury, Pant should bat on day five in India's second innings. Gill was finally out for 50 off 101 balls with eight boundaries.
Pujara and Rahane both survived some near misses in the final overs as Australia bowled a perilous line and length searching for a late wicket to tilt the match in their favour going into the third day.
