IND vs AUS 3rd Test, Day 4 Stumps: Cummins' fifty postpones India's victory to the final day

IND vs AUS 3rd Test, Day 4 Stumps: Australia were 258 for eight at stumps on the fourth and penultimate day of the third Test against India here Saturday.

India’s victory in the Boxing Day Test got postponed to the last day as Pat Cummins’ half-century kept the visitors at bay during the third session of Boxing Day Test’s Day 4 at the MCG. While chasing a mammoth 299-run target, the Aussies have amassed 258 runs at a loss of wickets and need another 141 runs to win.  At stumps, Cummins was batting n 61* and Nathan Lyon remained unbeaten on 6*.

Aussie skipper Tim Paine and Travis Head resumed the innings at 138/5 after the tea break and tried to anchor the innings for the next 8 overs. The duo stitched a 22-run stand for the sixth wicket before Ishant bowled head out with one of his fuller delivery. It was moving outside off but Head attempted for a drive and ended up rattling up his wickets.

.@ImIshant is PUMPED! pic.twitter.com/hScWlIMXKb

— Telegraph Sport (@telegraph_sport) December 29, 2018

Accompanied by Pat Cummins, the Aussie captain continued his struggle and added another 19 runs before he lost his wicket to Ravindra Jadeja. The Aussie skipper wanted to play the cut shot but could only edge the ball and Pant took a magnificent catch to send him packing.

At the same time, Pant equalled a 64-year-old Indian wicketkeeping record of most dismissal in a Test series. He has affected 19 dismissals in this series so far, equalling the tally of Naren Tamhane (vs Pak, 1954/55) and Syed Kirmani (vs Pak, 1979/80).

After the departure of the top-order, Aussie tail once again showed utmost character and made the visitors toil for their second victory in this Test series.

A 39-run partnership brewed between Mitchell Starc (18) and Cummins for the 8^th wicket before Shami scalped his 2^nd wicket. In the 71^st over, a back of a length delivery from Shami seamed back in and went through bat and body to shatter the stumps.

WICKET! @MdShami11 knocks over Mitchell Starc and India need just two more wickets https://t.co/GNv3iQy2hw #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/QPz585RKif

— Telegraph Sport (@telegraph_sport) December 29, 2018

Meanwhile, Pat Cummins played the most impressive knock of the day as he smashed his 2^nd Test fifty, that too, in such a crucial situation. With 5 fours and a six, he has scored 61 runs far, playing a massive 41-run partnership with Nathan Lyon (6*) for the 9^th wicket.

Pat Cummins brought up a half-century and then played two of the best shots we've seen all Test. Oh what a feeling, oh what a superstar!#AUSvIND | @toyota_aus pic.twitter.com/dCnze6GAD0

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 29, 2018

Brief scores:

India: 443/7 and 106/8 declared (Mayank Agarwal 42; Pat Cummins 6/27)

Australia: 151 all out and 258/8 in 85 overs (Pat Cummins batting 61, Shaun Marsh 44; Ravindra Jadeja 3/82, Jasprit Bumrah 2/53)