India vs Australia 3rd Test: India reach 98/2 at stumps on Day 4

India vs Australia 3rd Test Day 4: Brilliant knock from Steve Smith and Cameron Green help Australia set 407-run target for India.

IND vs AUS: Steve Smith fist bumps with Marnus Labuschagne on Day 4 of 3rd Test. (Source: Twitter/cricketcomau)

Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara played cautiously in the closing segment of Day 4 as India reached 98/2 at stumps of the ongoing Test in Sydney. Rahane is playing on 4, while his partner Pujara is on 9 as India require another 309 runs or bat the entire day to save the Test.

Earlier in the day, both Steve Smith and Cameron Green breached the 80-run mark, as they helped Australia pile 312/6 in their second innings. Chasing 407, the Inian opening pair of Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma provided India with a solid 71-run opening stand.

Gill was the first man to be dismissed, after he edged a ball off Josh Hazlewood with Australian skipper Tim Paine completing the catch. Rohit went on to complete his half-century but soon after that he fell for a careless shot which went straight into the hands of Mitchell Starc standing at fine leg.

10 January 2021

12:23 IST

Rohit Sharma throws away an important start as he plays a careless pull, which goes into the hands of Mitchell Starc standing at the fine leg boundary. Ajinkya Rahane joins Cheteshwar Pujara in the middle. IND: 94/2

11:50 IST

Josh Hazlewood provides hosts with the first breakthrough and it is Shubman Gill, who will take the long walk back to the pavilion. Gill edged the ball and it rested in Tim Paine's gloves, however, the Indian was not happy with the decision. But TV replay confirmed that the ball had touched Gill's bat. So India lose both a wicket and a review as Cheteshwar Pujara joins Rohit Sharma in the middle. IND: 71/1

11:32 IST

Rohit and Gill are taking things steady for India as they add 64 runs for the opening stand. India still require 343 to win. 

10:43 IST

The pair of Rohit and Shubman are going strong as the duo take India to 28/0 after the first 10 overs. India need more 379 runs to win the contest.

10:12 IST

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill walk in for India. Pace bowler Mitchell Starc to start bowling for the hosts.

10:04 IST

Australia declare after Cameron Green's dismissal. India need 407 to win

09:37 IST

Jasprit Bumrah dismisses the danger man Cameron Green on 84. He along with Paine added 104 for the sixth-wicket, helping Australia extend their lead by 406 runs. 

AUS: 312/6 

08:49 IST

Cameron Green inches towards his fifty as he along with skipper Tim Paine stitch a 50-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Australia is playing on 264/5 and they now have a lead of 358 runs. 

08:01 IST

R Ashwin traps Steve Smith LBW on 81, but the Australian has already done his job. His knock has helped Australia extend their lead by over 300 runs. With Tim Paine and Green out in the middle, the hosts aim to set a bigger target for India. 

AUS: 208/5

07:10 IST

Cameron Green and Steve Smith add 34 runs for the fifth wicket as Australia reach 182/4 at lunch on Day 4. Smith is batting on 58, while his partner Green is playing on 20 as Australia now have a lead of 276 runs.  

06:56 IST

Steve Smith now has 7424* runs in Test cricket, making him Australia's ninth-highest run-scorer in this format of the game. 

SPD Smith - 7424* runs
DC Boon - 7422 runs

Smith overtakes Boon as Australia's ninth-highest Test run-scorer! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/9Bqx7N8wR2

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 10, 2021

06:48 IST

After a horrid Saturday, it's been a decent day for Team India with Navdeep Saini removing both Marnus Labuschagne and Matthew Wade. These are the two wickets that have fallen so far in the day. Meanwhile, Steve Smith has continued to display his imperious form as the former Aussie skipper slammed another half-century. He is joined by Cameron Green in the middle as Australia bat on 174/4, extending their lead to 268 runs.