SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia closed in on victory and led a 2-1 series at tea on the final day of the third test after reducing India to 280 for five, still 126 runs in arrears.
A brilliant 97 from Rishabh Pant and 77 a disappointing general from Cheteshwar Pujara had given the tourists hope that they could run down their target of 407.
Pant, who was suspected of a serious injury on Saturday after suffering a serious blow to his elbow, saved 12 four-time and three-six to give the game to the Australians, who were expected to put up a victory for reasonably easy on a declining wicket.
The pair had put forward 148 for the fourth wicket before Pant was caught at a point back three shy runs of the century to give Nathan Lyon the second wicket of the day.
It was a huge relief for the home side, who may have been hampered by Ben Stokes’ innings of 135 not out at Headingley in the 2019 ashes that allowed England to hold on to the jaws of the issue.
Pujara was the chalk to Pant cheese, putting out his scraps from 205 deliveries over 285 minutes before Josh Hazlewood got something out of his last second new ball to secure his defense and destroy his wickets.
Hanuma Vihari was limping four who were not out at the break and will start again with Ravichandran Ashwin, who was unbeaten on seven after coming out to bat ahead of Ravindra Jadeja.
Jadeja spread his left thumb in the first innings in India and India’s big injury laps continued to go up on Monday when Vihari pulled up grabbing his hammer after dropping the wicket for a single tidy.
India had started a sunny day at Sydney Cricket Ground on 98-2 and were immediately on the back foot when captain Ajinkya Rahane was sent off by Lyon for four in the second round of play.
The tourists have agreed to travel to Brisbane this week to play their fourth test, Australian Cricket head Nick Hockley said on Monday, ending a week of uncertainty surrounding the match.
Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, edited by Peter Rutherford