The 3rd day of the second Test between Australia and India at the MCG has kept India ahead after a brilliant bowling performance from the Indian bowlers, despite suffering a setback as well.
India started the day at 277/5, but Ajinkya Rahane was soon run out while attempting a risky single for 112 runs. Ravindra Jadeja completed his half-century before falling to Starc for 57 runs. After this, the Indian tail failed to wag as they were bowled out for 326 runs, taking a lead of 131 runs.
For Australia, Mitchell Starc (3/78) and Nathan Lyon (3/72) were the picks of the bowlers.
The home team looked sure to blow off the lead quickly with two more days to go in the Test. However, Umesh Yadav made the first breakthrough, removing Joe Burns for 4 runs, continuing his horror run, barring a half-century in the first Test.
Unfortunately, Umesh hurt his calf muscle and had to go for scans, putting India one bowler short. Marnus Labuschagne was the next to go, after being caught by Rahane in slips off Ashwin for 28. Steve Smith’s poor run of form continued as he fell for 8 runs, after being bowled behind his legs by Jasprit Bumrah.
Matthew Wade held the fort at one hand for 40 off 137 balls, but he fell to Jadeja. Travis Head gave Mohammad Siraj his third wicket of the Test, as he edged a wide ball to Mayank Agarwal in slips.
Tim Paine was given caught behind via snicko on a DRS call for 1 run. But Cameron Green (17*) and Pat Cummins (15*) added 34* runs for the 7th wicket to frustrate the Indian bowlers and gave Australia a lead of 2 runs, finishing at 133/6, at the end of the day’s play.
Ravindra Jadeja picked 2/25, while Bumrah, Yadav, Ashwin, and Siraj picked one wicket each.
The Indian cricket fraternity was happy with the way Indian bowlers performed without two of their pace spearheads in Mohammad Shami and Ishant Sharma and lauded the Ajinkya Rahane-led side on Twitter.
Here are the tweets:
