IND vs AUS 2nd Test, Day 3 Lunch: Indian bowlers rip Aussie top-order apart; AUS - 89/4
ND vs AUS 2nd Test, day 3 Lunch: Travis Head remained unbeaten on while Shaun Marsh lost his wicket on 19 at the stroke of lunch break. They are still trailing by 354 runs
After failing to create an impact with the bat, the Australians continued their dismal performance with the bat on the third day of the Boxing Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). In reply to India’s massive 1st score of 443 runs, the Aussies have put 89 runs by the end of the first session at a cost of four wickets. Travis Head remained unbeaten on while Shaun Marsh lost his wicket on 19 at the stroke of lunch break. They are still trailing by 354 runs.
The Aussie opening duo – Aaron Finch and Marcus Harris – resumed the play at 8/0 but four overs after the beginning of the game, India got their first breakthrough. The pair could only add 16 runs to their overnight score before Ishant Sharma struck early morning to get rid of Aaron Finch.
A fine catch from rookie Mayank Agarwal at the short mid-wicket ended Finch’s struggle at the crease, forcing him to return to the dressing room after scoring only 8 runs.
Aaron Finch again goes cheaply. He's averaging 18.8 this series.
— Telegraph Sport (@telegraph_sport) December 28, 2018
LIVE #AUsvIND: https://t.co/JpE7WziYSX pic.twitter.com/7TyaZa7eps
The Aussies seemed under pressure after losing an early wicket and then came Bumrah to trouble them further. In the 14th over, Bumrah’s bouncer turned impossible for Harris to tackle. The young batsman attempted a blind pull shot but ended up finding Ishant at the fine leg underneath the ball.
After the openers had returned, Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh tried to contain the Indian bowling attack, standing long at the crease. However, spinner Ravindra Jadeja who is playing his first match in this series had some other plans.
The duo managed to add 17 runs for the third wicket before Jadeja bowled a flattered delivery around off and Khawaja (21) failed to control his block. The ball took the inside edge and Mayank’s superb reflexes at the shorts converted the opportunity into a huge success.
The pace of scoring hadn't changed from the first two days, but it was pretty obvious that the nature of pitch was vastly different as India pressed home their advantage.
Shaun Marsh and Head then added 36 runs for the fourth wicket and brought some semblance of stability to the Australian innings. They used good footwork against Jadeja to smother the possibility of turn from the rough.
But Bumrah came up with an inspirational yorker at the stroke of lunch and the slow dipping delivery caught Shaun Marsh plumb in front of the wicket as Australia's top-order was completely blown away on the third morning.
NOOOOO! @shaunmarsh9 departs on the last before ball before lunch.
— Telegraph Sport (@telegraph_sport) December 28, 2018
LIVE #AUSvIND: https://t.co/AB6QpbaIbv pic.twitter.com/3zKdCo3aHm
Earlier on the opening day, debutant Mayank Agarwal had scored his maiden Test half-century after India won the toss and opted to bat. Cheteshwar Pujara then scored his 17th Test hundred on Thursday to help India declare their first innings at 443 for 7.
The four-match series is tied at 1-1 after India won the first Test in Adelaide by 31 runs and Australia won the second Test in Perth by 146 runs.
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