Ranchi: Peter Handscomb (72*) scored his maiden fifty of the series as Australia managed to draw the third Test against India at JSCA International Stadium Complex. Handscomb, along with Shaun Marsh (53), stitched a match-saving 124-run stand for the fifth wicket where the two batsmen batted for more than 60 overs.


COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

Day 5: As it happened...


Over 100 | Score 204/6 | (Handscomb 72*, Wade 9*)


That's it. Virat Kohli shool hands with Handscomb, who remains unbeaten on 72 – a match-saving kncock. Australian dressing room would be extremely proud with the way their batsman fought on the final day. It was a disappointing day for the Indian bowlers, who did not have many moments to celebrate on the final day.


Over 96 | Score 192/6 | (Marsh 52*, Handscomb 60*)


R Ashwin picked his first wicket of the innings when Glenn Maxwell was caught bat pad in short leg. India have picked two wickets in quick intervals but the breakthroughs have come pretty late after Handscomb and Marsh batted for over 60 overs.


GJ Maxwell c Vijay b Ashwin 2 (15b)


Over 92 | Score 188/5 | (Marsh 52*, Handscomb 60*)


Jadeja finally got the much-needed breakthrough when set batsman Shaun Marsh hit one straight to the fielder at forward short leg. The wicket has fallen, but after 60 overs. Glenn Maxwell is the next man in.


SE Marsh c Vijay b Jadeja 53 (197b)


Over 87 | Score 180/4 | (Marsh 52*, Handscomb 60*)


After Handscomb, it was Marsh's turn to bring up his fifty. The veteran Aussie drove Ashwin through covers for a boundary to bring up his fifty. These two have now added 117-runs for the fifth wicket and with close to 15 overs remaining, only a miracle from the Indian bowlers can save this Test from being drawn.


Over 80 | Score 170/4 | (Marsh 46*, Handscomb 56*)


Peter Handscomb completed his third Test fifty, first of this series. Tremendous knock under pressure. With these two well set, Indian bowlers are now looking short of ideas. Marsh and Handscomb have batted really well and a draw is on the cards from here onwards.


Over 69 | Score 149/4 | (Marsh 38*, Handscomb 44*)


What a magnificent partnership this has been for Australia. India have failed to pick a wicket in this session as these two have added unbeaten 86 runs for the fifth-wicket partnership. The Australian camp would be very proud of the way these two have fought back and would want them to continue doing so even in the final session.


Over 60 | Score 133/4 | (Marsh 35*, Handscomb 31*)


Credit must go to Marsh and Handscomb who have pulled off their team out of trouble with a handy partnership. Handscomb has used his feet brilliant against the spinners and has not looked vulnerable at all. This session has belonged to these two so far and India desperately need a couple of breakthroughs to make a comeback in the match.


Over 50 | Score 108/4 | (Marsh 28*, Handscomb 13*)


Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb have done a decent job of rebuilding the innings. The two have played 14 over since the dismissal of Smith. It's crucial for Australia for these two to spend as much time at the crease as possible. Kohli, on the other hand, needs one of his bowlers to get him a breakthrough at the earliest.


Over 36 | Score 83/4 | (Marsh 15*, Handscomb 4*)


LUNCH: Australia were slowly looking to go wicketless in that morning session. But that one over from Ishant shifted the momentum India's way and Jadeja undeniably got the biggest wicket, which could also be the series-winning blow from him.


 


Over 30 | Score 63/4 | (Marsh 4*, Handscomb 0*)


After waiting for one and a half hours, India got their first breakthrough of the day when Ishant trapped Renshaw in front of the wicket off a delivery which nipped into the batsman. In the next over, Jadeja spun on away from Smith, who didn't offer a shot only to see his off-stump being rattled. Two huge blows in two consecutive overs for Australia. India are once again back in the game.


SPD Smith b Jadeja 21 (68b)


MT Renshaw lbw b Sharma 15 (84b)


Over 24 | Score 48/2 | (Renshaw 16*, Smith 14*)


Smith and Renshaw continue to frustrate Indian bowlers. These two have looked in no trouble whatsoever since the start of the morning session. The partnership is now worth 25 runs but the Aussies need these two to convert it into a big one.


Over 15 | Score 37/2 | (Renshaw 11*, Smith 9*)


Steve Smith along with Renshaw has got Australia off to a decent start. Australia need these two to add a decent stand for the third wicket. India, on the other hand, can strengthen their grip on this Test match if they can manage to dismiss Smith.


Cheteshwar Pujara's marathon double hundred complemented by Wriddhiman Saha's dogged century put India in complete command with an imposing total of 603 for 9 against Australia on the fourth day of the third cricket Test on Sunday.


With a substantial lead of 152 in their kitty, India chose to declare the innings. The bowlers then went all out as Australia were tottering at 23 for 2 when stumps were drawn.


Ravindra Jadeja (2/6) got a couple of deliveries to land on the rough and breach through the defences of David Warner (14) and Nathan Lyon (2).


An overjoyed Virat Kohli was seen patting his heavily strapped injured shoulder after Warner's dismissal, an obvious reference to Glenn Maxwell's mocking yesterday.


The match has undoubtedly been set up by Pujara's (202) marathon vigil which lasted for more than 11 hours (672 minutes).


He faced 525 deliveries -- most by any Indian batsman in an innings surpassing Rahul Dravid's Indian record of 495 balls against Pakistan at Rawalpindi back in 2004.


The Saurashtra right-hander hit 21 boundaries in his third Test double hundred adding a record 199 runs for the seventh wicket stand which could well prove to be a game-changer.


Wriddhiman also played his part to perfection en route his career-best score of 117.


This was the third Test century for the wicketkeeper-batsman, who has now cemented his place in the team. He faced 233 balls hitting eight fours and a six.


Jadeja (54, 55 balls) used the long handle to good effect and stretched the lead to 150 plus with the Australian bowlers finding little assistance from the surface.


Left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe sent down a record 77 overs picking 3/196 in the process. The number of overs bowled by O'Keefe is highest by an overseas bowler on Indian soil.


Comeback man Pat Cummins was the most successful bowler bagging 4/106 in 39 overs. It was a laudable effort considering the pace at which he bowls and the fact that he was playing Test cricket after a long time.


But Nathan Lyon (1/163 in 46 overs) was a disappointment once again.


The Indian team did not waver from their safety first approach as 243 runs were scored in the 80 overs that they batted on the day.