IND V AUS 3rd Test, Day 5 Lunch Report: India take giant steps to take a 2-1 lead

Photo: AP

New Delhi: India sent Australia right on the back foot by reducing them to 83/4, still 69 runs shy of making India bat again at lunch on Day 5 of the third India-Australia Test at Ranchi.

Overnight batsmen Smith and Renshaw started well by denying India an early wicket. Renshaw was looking particularly well with his forward lunge technique against Jadeja. 

When all eyes were on the Saurashthra left-armer, Ishant Sharma produced a fine spell from the other end. He started off with a wide outside the off stump tactic against Steve Smith but soon went back to using his height to good advantage.

Ishant trapped Renshaw right in front with a ball that kept slightly lower than normal. The context to the dismissal was even more interesting though.  Ishant pushed the left-hander on back foot with back to back short of length deliveries and followed it up with a fuller one that came back in with the angle.

India got an ever bigger wicket in the next over. It was the opposition captain, who had been thorn in the flesh in the entire series. 

It was not shot that would make him proud though. Smith misjudged a Jadeja delivery and shouldered his arms, only to have his off stump pegged back. The ball pitched outside the leg stump and turned viciously, evading Smith’s front pad to knock off his off pole. 

With the rough created for Jadeja and the kind of support provided by Ishant, it seems only a matter of time before India takes a 2-1 lead in the series. 

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