Hello and welcome to the highlights of Day four of the third Test between Australia and India at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
India vs Australia Third Test Day 5 Live Score
India vs Australia Third Test Day 4 Scorecard
STUMPS India 244 & 98/2 after 34 overs | Needs 309 runs to win - A shared session, only the second of the third Test. India got off to a confident start but two quick wickets have put the pressure back on the visitor. Rohit Sharma was at his best with a sublime half-century but a pull shot brought his downfall and Australia found a chink in the armour of young Shubman Gill. Rahane and Pujara - the two most experienced batsmen are in the middle and it will require a monumental act to bail India out of trouble and salvage a draw. The final day promises a cracker and both Rahane and Pujara are capable of scripting something special..
India 98/2 after 34 overs: Lyon bowls two back-to-back maidens. Cummins bowling excellent lines - letting it dip at a good length before making it nip back in on a straighter channel.
India 94/2 after 31 overs: WICKET - Rohit Sharma perishes and he has thrown away his wicket. It was a nothing delivery from Cummins, short ball down the leg, Rohit goes for the pull and hits it straight down the throat of Mitchell Stac at deep fine leg... Just couldn't get the distance to clear the man... Important wicket for Australia and they are pumped up.
India 92/1 after 30 overs: Fifty for Rohit - Fine half-century from Rohit and he gets a standing ovation from his teammates. He has got a start and needs to convert into a big one and India in desperate need for him to continue the knock. Dances down the track and flicks Lyon over mid-wicket for a boundary.
India 82/1 after 27 overs: Rohit has found his feet and has settled into a nice rhythm and Pujara is looking solid at the other end. Rohit is five short of his half-century and it would be a little achievement of sorts if the opener manages to reach the mini milestone.
India 71/1 after 23 overs: WICKET - Hazlewood strikes and he removes Shubman Gill. India review but lose it as Hazlewood induced an edge and Gill was caught in the crease with no feet movement and as he was pushing it, he nicked it to Paine. Cheteshwar Pujara survived an early LBW appeal and took a successful review after being given Out as the ball was going well above the stumps.
India 70/0 after 21 overs: Rohit has unleashed himself as he cover drives Starc for a boundary and then pulls the fast bowler for a maximum over deep mid-wicket and the opening stand is growing better and bigger.
India 53/0 after 19 overs: The fifty-run stand is up between Rohit and Gill and this is such a fine partnership between the openers. Solid in chase of a mammoth target of 407 and India is off to a bright start. Superb batting from both the openers and this is the first 50+ opening stand in fourth innings away from home since 2006.
India 46/0 after 17 overs: Rohit survived a run-out scare as he made it just in time. A Cummins delivery beat Rohit's flick, hit his pads and flew to second slip and the batsman left the crease for a moment and Labuschagne with a direct hit at the striker's end broke the stumps. Australia claimed the run-out, it was referred upstairs and Rohit planted his foot just at the right time. Would had been a disaster had he got run-out. Both batsmen are doing the basics right, leaving the ball well and have a sound knowledge of where their off pole is. Steady and confident start.
India 31/0 after 12 overs: Spin being introduced into the attack and Nathan Lyon starts in a decent fashion by giving just two runs. Australia eyeing a breakthrough but both Rohit and Gill seem to have got their eye in and are playing to the merit of the ball. The priority now will be to bat at least another 25 overs for the day and blunt the new ball. There will be plays and misses but if Rohit and Gill manage to carry their bat through, India will believe they can script something spectacular.
India 25/0 after 8 overs: Eventful over as both Rohit and Gill survive with Rohit using a successful review and Australia losing one. First Rohit was adjudged LBW off Hazlewood and although he was given Out, the opener took the review and height saved him as the ball was missing the stumps. Then Australia took a review for a caught behind but Gill was confident that he didn't nick it and replays suggested that the ball brushed the flap of his pad en route to Paine. There was nothing on HotSpot or Snicko and the ball was missing the stumps too.
India 18/0 after 5 overs: Rohit gets going with a boundary through the backward point and Gill is steady at the other end, keeping an eye on the ball and leaving well. Cummins and Starc are bowling a tight line, some wicket-taking balls but the Indian openers are up for the task and are looking solid.
India 4/0 after 1 over: Rohit Sharma gets off the mark with a pull through the square and Gill is away with a glance to the fine leg. The intent looks good from the Indian openers and if they can pull off this session without being separated, it will be a huge confidence booster for India.
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are out there in the middle and India needs to bat out four sessions to save the Test match. There is no doubt of the potential but surviving four sessions against a quality bowling attack will require some application.
Australia has declared and the target for India is 407
Tea Day 4: Australia 312/6 Leads by 406 runs
Cameron Green misses his century as he falls for a brilliant 132-ball 84 and this has been Australia's session as the lead is now 406 runs. It's a matter of time before Paine declares and it will be a test of character for the Indian batsmen. Back in 20...
Stoppage in Play: There seems to an issue as Siraj has come over from the boundary and had a chat with his skipper Ajinkya Rahane, who in return had a word with the umpires. Siraj has pointed towards the direction from which he was hurdled abuses and both umpires are now near the boundary with the police also being involved. Siraj has pointed towards the direction from which he was hurdled abuses and both umpires are now near the boundary with the police also being involved. The police have asked an entire batch of spectators to leave the SCG as boos ring in with mixed reactions from the crowd. The issue is sorted and play gets underway.
Australia 301/5 after 86 overs: Cameron Green smokes Siraj for two massive back-to-back sixes as the 300 comes up for Australia with the lead five runs short of 400. Declaration on the cards.
India alleges racial abuse from members of the Sydney crowd
Australia 274/5 after 83 overs: Cameron Green hits maiden Test half-century and what a time to reach the mini milestone with his skipper at the other end and Australia in absolute control of the Test match. The lead continues to swell and the Indian shoulders are dropping as they wait for Tim Paine to declare.
Australia 258/5 after 79 overs: The fifty-run partnership between Green and Paine is up and the lead is beyond 350 and Australia continues to pile agony on India. How many sessions can India bat to save the Test is the biggest question. A win will be rewriting history books.
Australia 237/5 after 75 overs: Dropped! Second drop of the day and this time it is Rohit Sharma and the bowler again is Bumrah. Tim Paine survives as he gets a thick outside edge, the ball carries to the first slip, Rohit dives but spills the catch and Bumrah just covers his face with his hands. Shane Warne on air is absolutely furious on air. 10 catches are dropped in 3 matches and the legendary leg-spinner reckons, it's 'way too many.' The lead nears 350
Australia 220/5 after 72 overs: Tim Paine is out in the middle and joins Cameron Green and the Australian captain will aim to score as many as possible. The lead is over 312 runs and it's going to be a monumental task for India to chase down the target.
Australia 208/5 after 68 overs: WICKET - Ashwin strikes and he gets the prized scalp of Smith - for the third time in this series and Australia's best batsman misses a century. There was a loud shout for a LBW, the umpire was unmoved but Ashwin insisted on going for the review, which proved successful. Tossed up delivery, SMith got beaten by the turn as the ball hit his front pad. HawkEye showed it was hitting the top of leg stump and the onfield decision had to be changed. So India get a breakthrough but it might be a tad late.
We are back for the second session with Australia in complete command. The lead is 276 and all that matters now is when will Australia declare... India needs to contain runs and pick wickets.
Lunch Day 4 | Australia 182/4 Leads by 276 runs
Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne forged a century stand to put Australia in a commanding position and despite Mohammed Siraj's double strike Cameron Green a Smith with an unbeaten 34-run partnership have forced India to go into a defensive mode. With plenty of time left in the Test match, it's advantage Australia.
Australia 174/4 after 61 overs: It's hard work for the Indian bowlers, especially with a spinner short as both Smith and Green continue to occupy the crease. The partnership is worth 27 and both Ashwin and Siraj are trying to break this stand. Ashwin has switched to round the wicket and the Indians are now in a defensive mindset.
Australia 166/4 after 57 overs: Mohammed Siraj bowls a maiden and both Cameron Green and Smith are batting without any trouble and know that time is not a factor in this Test match. The lead is exactly 260 but Australia will look to cross the 300-run mark.
Australia 165/4 after 54 overs: The master batsman continues to pile runs as Smith reaches his fifty and roars back into form with yet another superb knock. A century in the first innings and now an unbeaten half-century and Australia firmly in the driver's seat.
Australia 148/4 after 49 overs: WICKET - Saini picks his second wicket and Matthew Wade's poor form in the series continues. Back of length delivery, right on the off channel and Saini induces a nick as Saha takes a regulation catch.
Australia 142/3 after 47 overs: WICKET - Navdeep Saini strikes and he denies Marnus Labuschagne a century as the batsman gets strangled down the leg. Saini pushes it down the leg side and the extra bounce did the trick there as Labuschagne gets a glove and Saha dives to his left to take an excellent catch. Saini breaks the 103-run stand.
Australia 128/2 after 44 overs: Ashwin into the attack but both Smith and Labuschagne have been comfortable in playing the spinner and the lead is exactly 222. India needs to break this partnership before it's too late as both batsmen are currently bossing the game.
Australia 114/2 after 37 overs: Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are bowling great lines and are looking for wickets but India needs to keep an eye on the scoring. Anything more than 300 would be very difficult to chase.
Australia 108/2 after 34 overs: Labuschagne hits his second half-century of the match and the drop by Vihari is going to hurt India as Australia's lead crosses the 200-run mark.
Australia 105/2 after 30 overs: Dropped! Hanuma Vihari dropped an absolute sitter and Bumrah is simply in disbelief! This is horrendous from Vihari as Labuschagne flicks Bumrah and Vihari stationed at backward square puts down a dolly as the ball hits his wrists. Not an ideal start for India.
Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith sprint into the middle and Ajinkya Rahane's men follow suit with Jasprit Bumrah marking his run-up to start proceedings. Wickets is the only thing that can get India back in the match.
A lead of 197 runs and Australia surely have the Test in their grip. It will take a monumental effort from India to win the Pink Test and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Ajinkya Rahane's leadership will be put to test as Smith and Labuschagne aim to further build the lead and take Australia to a dominating position.
STUMPS - Australia 103/2 | Leads by 197 runs
Sydney Test: Pat Cummins rattles India as Australia tightens grip
Fast bowler Pat Cummins has given Australia the advantage after three days of the third Test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Cummins removed Cheteshwar Pujara for the fourth time in three Tests this summer, taking 4 for 29 to have India all out for 244.
Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary
At stumps on Saturday, Marnus Labuschagne was not out on 47 and Steve Smith on 29 for a lead of 197 runs. The pair put on a crucial 68 for the third wicket after openers Will Pucovski (10) and David Warner (13) fell early.
India alleges racial abuse from members of the Sydney crowd
The Indian cricket team has lodged an official complaint with match referee David Boon for racial abuse against its pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj by spectators during the third day’s play in the Sydney Test.
READ| 'Play in Brisbane or forfeit' - India vs Australia fourth Test's fate hangs in balance
Sportstar understands that the Indian team managment has formally lodged the complaint after discussing the issue in detail with match officials and security officials. The ball is now in ICC's court, the governing body which has a no-tolerance policy for racism.
Toss: Australia has won the toss and opted to bat first
Playing XI:
India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (C), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini
Australia: David Warner, Will Pucovski, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Matthew Wade, Cameron Green, Tim Paine (C/WK), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
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