India were staring at a follow-on before Ajinkya Rahane came to rescue.
Rahane arrived in the middle when India were reeling at 50/3 and he went on to score 89, adding 109 runs for the seventh wicket with Shardul Thakur (51) to take the team’s first innings total to 296 in reply to Australia’s 469.
After the third day’s play, Australia pacer Mitchell Starc heaped praise on Rahane, saying that the classy right-hander showed how to bat on a seaming pitch.
“He played really well. We know Jinks can play innings like that; we've seen it through series before. He came in at a tough time to bat and managed to, along with Thakur as well, to absorb some pressure there and build an innings and played really nicely," Starc told reporters.
“So, it took a special catch to get him out and certainly that partnership was one that sort of prolonged our bowling innings I guess but I think they both played pretty well.
“Jinx probably was a little bit more you know - waited for the bad ball and built his innings and then built a nice partnership. So, we know what a good player he is and he's done in the past and hopefully we can get him out early in the second innings,” he added.
During India’s first innings, star batter Virat Kohli looked in total control for his 14 runs before a bouncing short delivery from Starc hit the shoulder of his bat and went into the hands of Steve Smith at second slip.
Reflecting on Kohli’s dismissal, Starc said: “From that far end I struggled to find some rhythm. I just went back to trying to run in and hit the wicket. I managed to find a bit of extra bounce and found the thumb. So, yeah, nice one to get.”
After winning the toss and bowling first, India were expected to get the better of the Australian batting line-up given the overcast conditions and a green-tinged pitch at The Oval.
However, it turned out exactly opposite as the duo of Travis Head (163) and Steve Smith (121) made a mockery of the Indian bowling attack to propel Australia to a massive 469/10 in the first innings.
Starc feels it was a good toss to lose for Australia. “It [pitch] is certainly showing more signs of inconsistency as we go on obviously. It seems to be a good toss to lose. But yeah, I think obviously with the weather that we've had and the weather that's coming up, it might play some more tricks.”
“I felt like we all, sort of our group, certainly felt like bowling from the far end we didn't quite have the same rhythm as we did from the pavilion. And so, I certainly felt like the other end was uphill into the wind and just played a part in not being able to find that rhythm.
“So, bowling from the pavilion certainly felt a lot freer and we all felt a bit better today. Might just play a few more tricks as the game goes on,” he remarked.
At the close of play on Day 3, Australia were 123/4 in their second innings, stretching their lead to 296 runs with Marnus Labuschagne (41*) and Cameron Green (7*) unbeaten in the middle.
(With PTI Inputs)