India vs Australia Live Cricket Score, 4th Test Day 3 (India National Cricket Team vs Australia National Cricket Team Match Scorecard): Hello and welcome to the live blog of the third day of the Boxing Day Test, between Australia and India, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja will resume the innings at 164 for 5 as India trail Australia by 310 runs.
Earlier on Friday, Skipper Rohit Sharma (3) fell cheaply once again before Yashasvi Jaiswal (82) and Virat Kohli (36) steadied the ship with a 102-run stand. Jaiswal was run out following a mix up with Kohli, who was caught behind in the following over.
Australia were all out after lunch with Steve Smith scoring his 34th Test hundred. Resuming at their overnight score of 311 for six, the hosts added 163 runs on the day to post a commanding total.
For India, Jasprit Bumrah (4/99) and Ravindra Jadeja (3/78) shared seven wickets between them while Akash Deep (2/94) had two scalps.
LIVE FEED
48.2 – A huge appeal for caught behind, especially from behind the stumps and Alex Carey is certain that this is out. The umpire says no though and Pat Cummins has reviewed it. Cummins bangs the ball into the deck and keeps the line tight around off, getting it to shoot off the deck as well. Pant is an awkward position and tries to lift his hands up and leave. The replays show that the ball just flicked Pant’s jersey and it will be a review lost for Australia.
48.3 – Goes full now and keeps it around off, Pant pushes it out to covers.
48.1 – FOUR! That’s just classic Rishabh Pant, throwing caution to the wind.
47.6 – Back to around the wicket for the final ball and it will be another dot, maiden for Boland to begin with. Good length in the channel around off, angled in but seaming away off the deck, Jadeja makes an assured leave.
Batsman_1 : Ravindra Jadeja 4(13)
Batsman_2 : Rishabh Pant 10(13)
Bowler : Scott Boland 2/24(13)
Over : 48
Run : 0
Wicket : 0
Score : 168/5
47.5 – Back of a length and over the stumps, Jadeja presses back on his toes and blocks it down into the deck.
47.4 – Switches to around the stumps now and bowls it on a nagging length, slanting it across the left-hander, Jadeja looks to push at it but ends up pulling out of the shot.
47.3 – Again its full and on off, Jadeja gets a good stride in and pushes it away with gentle hands into the off side.
46.4 – FOUR! Streaky but Rishabh Pant won’t mind and first runs of the day as well. Floated up full and angled across off, Pant leans across to block with soft hands and gets an outside edge that goes down and in between second and a wide slip for a boundary.
47.2 – A tad fuller now and on off again, Jadeja gets onto the front foot this time and blocks it off.
47.1 – On the money to begin with! Comes from around the wicket and chips away at that nagging length, getting the ball to slide back in from off, Ravindra Jadeja is a bit late on the shot but manages to block it off the inner part of the blade to mid on.
Scott Boland (12-3-24-2) to operate from the far end.
46.5 – Dug in on a hard length and in the channel around off, left alone by Pant.
46.6 – One more leave to end the first over of the day. Good-length delivery around the fifth stump line, going straight on, left alone by Pant.
46.3 – Nicely bowled! A smidge fuller and on off, gets the ball to seam across the left-hander, Pant leans on to block but the ball zips past the outside edge.
46.4 – FOUR! Streaky but Rishabh Pant won’t mind and first runs of the day as well. Floated up full and angled across off, Pant leans across to block with soft hands and gets an outside edge that goes down and in between second and a wide slip for a boundary.
46.2 – Serves it on a good length and attacks the off and middle stump line, Pant solidly blocks it off the front foot.
All in readiness for Day 3 to commence here at the MCG! The sun is out and it’s a bright day out there. Not quite sure if it is bright for the Indians as they trail by 310 runs with just 5 wickets in hand. The crowd is building up gradually and as many as 70,000-odd spectators are expected to show up today. The umpires take their positions and the Australian players spread out to the field as well. The overnight Indian batting pair of Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant walk out to the crease. Pat Cummins to kick off the proceedings. And of we go…
46.1 – A leave to start Day 3! Bowled from over the wicket and sliding across the left-hander on a fuller length, Rishabh Pant shoulders arms as the ball dies on its way to the keeper.
All in readiness for Day 3 to commence here at the MCG! The sun is out and it’s a bright day out there. Not quite sure if it is bright for the Indians as they trail by 310 runs with just 5 wickets in hand. The umpires take their positions and the Australian fielders spread out to the field as well.
The second day was largely dominated by Australia with both bat and ball. It was Steven Smith’s sublime batting that really turned the screws on India with a match-defining hundred. He got valuable support from the tailenders as well which further extended the scoreline. Sure, Jadeja and Bumrah struck back late with some inspired bowling to trigger a collapse, Australia had already built their stronghold by then.
Pat Cummins, the skipper of Australia, is up for a quick chat with the broadcasters. He begins by saying that Steven Smith batter really well this morning and is delighted to get those late wickets towards the end of the day. On his ball to dismiss KL Rahul, he says he wishes he could do it every ball but happens very rarely. Is happy with the way he and the others bowled. Mentions that India were looking solid with that 100-run stand between Kohli and Jaiswal. Also says that a wicket anytime is handy and Jaiswal’s wicket really gave them a little opening. Ends up appreciating Scott Boland and says that he is awesome every time he comes into the side.
Right then, Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test is done and dusted and the game has moved along nicely. But next up is Day 3, also known as the moving day and given how the game is currently stacked up, we could well get a clear picture of the end result by the end of Day 3. Do join us on Saturday, 28 December at 5 am IST (11.30 pm GMT, the previous day) for all the action. However, you can tune-in an hour in advance as well for the build-up. Cheers!
The MCG pitch is gradually showing its teeth, with some grip for the spinners and the odd one taking off from the surface, setting up a fascinating battle between Australia’s relentless pacers and India’s remaining batting arsenal. Will the deteriorating surface amplify the bowlers’ threat, or can India’s middle and lower order display enough grit to stave off the follow-on? The Australian camp, sensing blood in the water, will be gunning to dismantle the Indian batting lineup before they can mount any semblance of resistance. There’s plenty of time left with nine entire sessions of play still remaining. With all said, another immersive day of cricket awaits us. The first ball coming your way in just a few moments. Stay tuned.
Hello, everyone! It’s Super Saturday coupled with the Boxing Day Test which is progressing at its full tilt, and the fans are surely going to be treated to some extraordinary cricket this weekend. On that note, we welcome you all joining us for the coverage of Day 3 of this fourth Test at the iconic MCG. With the way things have panned out so far in the first two days, Australia finds itself in a commanding position winning four out of six sessions played, while India is seeking for a miraculous comeback.
Despite a batting-friendly surface, India failed to capitalize on two crucial fronts. Their conservative approach with the new ball lacked support for Bumrah. While their batting performance was marred by an inability to build a partnership of substance that could have seized control of the game. Although the ball showed signs of occasional grip and turn for spinners and some extra bounce for pacers, it was minimally troublesome. In that regard, the Aussies played their cards well. Pat Cummins and Scott Boland in particular have done the most with the ball.
India’s top-order struggles continued to haunt them, with even captain Rohit Sharma’s return to his customary opening slot failing to provide the desired impact. While Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli temporarily steadied the innings, a ‘schoolboy error’ kind of a run-out, followed by Kohli yet again prodding and nicking at an outside off delivery sparked a dramatic batting collapse. What had initially seemed like an evenly poised contest quickly tilted away from India, and has left them facing a significant first-innings deficit.
Earlier in the day, Steven Smith and Pat Cummins put on a show in the first session as Smith went on to notch up the 34th Test ton and his 11th against India, overtaking Kohli as the most tons scored in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Australia seemed to cross 500 runs but India did manage to clean up the tail post-Lunch and had a large part of the afternoon session to bat which they didn’t quite make the most use of as Cummins set things up for the hosts with the ball as well.
The Australian bowlers watched by for a large part of that final session as Jaiswal and Kohli put on a 100-run stand for the third wicket. However, a brain fade moment between Jaiswal and Kohli resulted in an unnecessary run out and Jaiswal had to walk back 18 short of what would have been a stellar ton. Kohli then had that moment in the back of his mind and lost concentration as he went chasing after a wide one from Scott Boland and got out in the next over himself. It got even better for Australia as Boland managed to send the nightwatchman, Akash Deep back in the penultimate over of the day, leaving India in a huge spot of bother.
India had a big ask ahead of themselves with Australia putting 474 runs on the board and then they lost their skipper, Rohit Sharma pretty early on as well. KL Rahul looked at ease yet again but got a beauty from Cummins on the stroke of Tea which pegged India back. However, post the Tea break, the pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli came out and steadied the ship before really playing some confident strokes.
45.6 – FOUR! A lovely shot from Jadeja to close out the day! Starc goes for a yorker but ends up bowling it a bit fuller and gets a shape into the batter, on middle and leg, Ravindra Jadeja clips it behind the square and gets a boundary at the vacant deep backward square leg region. With that, it will be STUMPS ON DAY 2!
Batsman_1 : Ravindra Jadeja 4(7)
Batsman_2 : Rishabh Pant 6(7)
Bowler : Mitchell Starc 0/48(13)
Over : 46
Run : 5
Wicket : 0
Score : 164/5
40.6 – OUT! RUN OUT! Dear, oh dear! A terrible, terrible mix-up between the batters and Jaiswal has to walk back to the pavilion. Boland bowls it full and attacks the stumps, Yashasvi Jaiswal gets on the front foot and flicks it straight to mid on. Jaiswal is eager for the run and seeing Virat Kohli take a few steps ahead, Jaiswal rushes towards the other end, but Kohli turns around and is ball-watching and not seeing his partner. Cummins on the other hand, picks and throws at the striker’s end. Meanwhile, Jaiswal is almost at the non-striker’s end and has no time at all to retreat back and finds himself stranded. Carey collects the ball and runs towards the wickets and dislodges the bails. Yashasvi Jaiswal departs on 82 and India lose their third wicket at a very crucial time.
Batsman_1 : Yashasvi Jaiswal 82(118)
Batsman_2 : Virat Kohli 35(83)
Bowler : Scott Boland 0/22(10)
Over : 41
Run : 5
Wicket : 1
Score : 153/3
Wow, what an end to Day 2 and with about 20 or so minutes left in the day, it all seemed pretty even but heading into Day 3, Australia have a firm grip on the game. India are 164/5 and still trail by 310 runs. As many as 113 runs and 3 wickets fell in that final session as 31 overs were also bowled and Australia will feel very pleased with how everything panned out.