India vs Australia: Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur hit fifties to rescue India; Australia ahead by 54 runs


India vs Australia: Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur hit fifties to rescue India; Australia ahead by 54 runs

Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur during the Gabba test

Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur

India rode on fifties from lower order batsmen, Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar to cut Australia’s first-innings lead to just 33 runs on Day 3 of the fourth and final Test in Brisbane. At one point, India were on 186/6 and were staring down the barrel of handing the hosts a huge lead. However, debutant Sundar and one-Test old Thakur showed grit and spirit to take India to a safer score.

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For Australia, it was disappointment after being in a terrific position but with two more days to play, they would still fancy their chances of winning the series. The ominous thing however, is that there is rain forecast for the next two days and the match might as well end in a draw. If that happens, India will retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy on account of being the winners the last time around.

Sundar-Thakur frustrate Australia; Hazlewood picks 5

Josh Hazlewood celebrates a wicket

Resuming on their overnight score of 62/2, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane began cautiously and looked to be going well before Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc removed the duo. Mayank Agarwal and Rishabh Pant then got good starts as well before losing their wickets cheaply by going for audacious shots. Just as it looked like Australia were putting India under huge pressure, Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur weathered it.

The duo played classily and batted like batsmen to notch up fifties and trim the Aussie lead a great deal. By the time India were dismissed, the lead was just 33 runs. The Australian openers David Warner and Marcus Harris then came out to bat for 6 overs and got to 21/0.

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Scores

Australia – 1st innings

BatsmanMode of DismissalRunsBalls
David Warnerc Rohit b Siraj14
Marcus Harrisc Sundar b Thakur523
Marnus Labuschagnec Pant b Natarajan108204
Steve Smithc Rohit b Sundar3677
Matthew Wadec Thakur b Natarajan4587
Cameron Greenb Sundar47107
Tim Painec Rohit b Thakur50104
Pat Cumminslbw b Thakur28
Mitchell Starcnot out2035
Nathan Lyonb Sundar2422
Josh Hazlewoodb Natarajan1127

Total – 369 all-out in 115.2 overs

BowlerOversRunsWickets
Mohammed Siraj28771
T Natarajan24.2723
Shardul Thakur24943
Navdeep Saini7.5210
Washington Sundar31893
Rohit Sharma0.110

India – 1st innings

BatsmanMode of DismissalRunsBalls
Rohit Sharmac Starc b Lyon4474
Shubman Gillc Smith b Cummins715
Cheteshwar Pujarac Paine b Hazlewood2594
Ajinkya Rahanec Wade b Starc3793
Mayank Agarwalc Smith b Hazlewood3875
Rishabh Pantc Green b Hazlewood2329
Washington Sundarc Green b Starc62144
Shardul Thakurb Cummins67115
Navdeep Sainic Smith b Hazlewood514
Mohammed Sirajb Hazlewood1310
T Natarajannot out19

Total – 336 all-out in 111.4 overs

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BowlerOversRunsWickets
Mitchell Starc23882
Josh Hazlewood24.4575
Pat Cummins27942
Cameron Green8200
Nathan Lyon28651
Marnus Labuschagne100

Australia – 2nd innings

BatsmanMode of DismissalRunsBalls
Marcus Harrisnot out114
David Warnernot out2022

Total – 21/0 in 6 overs

BowlerOversRunsWickets
Mohammed Siraj2120
T Natarajan360
Washington Sundar130

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