Centurions from the first innings Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane hold key as India are looking to battle out for a draw against Australia in the fifth day of the third Test at Melbourne. At Tea, India were reeling at 104-3 courtesy an unbeaten 81 run partnership between the duo. Virat Kohli looed at his best as he smashed all the bowlers around the park in his 54 whereas Rahane looked solid in the other end with a 62 ball 33. India are still 281 runs behind with 216 overs still to be negated.
Chasing 385 to win from 70 overs, India got off to a worst possible start as they were reduced for 19-3 in the first six overs. Shikhar Dhawan was the first to go as he was trapped in front of the stumps off Ryan Harris without troubling the scorers. KL Rahul was promoted to bat at number 3 too didn’t last long as he was caught by Shane Watson when he tried to pull Mitchell Johnson. In-form Mueali Vijay followed Dhawan and Rahul soon after courtesy Kumar Dharmasena who raised his fingers against Vijay when Josh Hazlewood’s delivery was going way down the stumps.
Scorecard:
Australia (Ist Innings): 530 (Steve Smith 192, Ryan Harris 74, Mohammad Shami 4-138)
India (Ist Innings): 465 (Virat Kohli 169, Ajinkya Rahane 147, Ryan Harris 4-70)
Australian (2nd Innings): 318-9 (Shaun Marsh 99, Chris Rogers 69, Ishant Sharma 249)
Indian Batting (2nd Innings):
|
Batsmen |
Dismissal |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
|
M Vijay |
lbw b Hazlewood |
11 |
28 |
0 |
0 |
|
S Dhawan |
lbw b Harris |
0 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
|
KL Rahul |
c Watson b Johnson |
1 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
|
V Kohli |
not out |
54 |
98 |
7 |
0 |
|
A Rahane |
not out |
33 |
68 |
5 |
0 |
|
Extras |
(lb 5) |
5 |
|
|
|
|
Total |
34 overs |
104-3 |
Australia Bowling:
|
Bowlers |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
|
Mitchell Johnson |
7 |
0 |
24 |
1 |
3.42 |
|
Ryan Harris |
8 |
4 |
16 |
1 |
2.00 |
|
Josh Hazlewood |
7 |
1 |
26 |
1 |
3.28 |
|
Nathan Lyon |
9 |
0 |
62 |
0 |
2.88 |
|
Shane Watson |
3 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
3.33 |