BRAVE INDIA STRIKES BACK TO SAVE THE MATCH

 

Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India vs Australia, Pink Test,

3rd TEST-DAY 5,SCG

  India started the day from 98/2 and needed 409 to win, with their two important batsmen on the crease, Chetaswar Pujara(9) and Ajinkya Rahane(4). Rahane could not hold much and got out to Lyon. Then injured Risabh Pant came in, who started slowly then turned his innings into a fiery 97 of just 118 balls. He scored his runs mainly against Lyon and later gave his wicket to him. This counter attack gave India a hope of winning the match but it later on shattered with the Pant’s wicket.

    Pujara was playing his classy game at the other end and ended up at 77 by an absolute stunning delivery by Josh Hazlewood. Then India had two new men in the crease Ashwin and Vihari. Vihari was already injured in his hamstring while running.

     India wants a draw and Aussies wanted 5 wickets. Situation is worse for India as  Jadeja was injured, though he was determined to bat. Then Ashwin who was also injured by the dangerous Ausie deliveries along with injured Vihari showed immense character. Their partnership of 62of 260 balls saved the match for India and it was the highest 4^th Innings over played (131) in this century for India.

   The pitch was not at all helpful for the spinners and it didn’t look like day-5 pitch with so much bounce in it. In between the match there immense sledging but the Indian batsmans showed resilience. Steve Smith was the player of the match. As the match was drawn the series remain 1-1. This was one of the greatest test match of all time as India was not having its main players and many were injured.

 

Match summary

Australia: 338

Steve Smith (131) Ravindra Jadeja (4-62)

India: 224

Gill (50) Cummins (4-29)

Australia: 312/6d

C.Green(84) Saini(2-54)

India: 334/5

Pant (97) J.Hazlewood(2-39)