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Aus v Ind 3rd Test Day 2: India fight back to snatch edge against Australia

by Cricket World Friday 8 January 2021

Steve Smith celebrates his hundred at the SCG

©CA

India fought back brilliantly to snatch the edge on the second day of the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against host Australia.

India finished the day at 96 for two after Australia ended their first innings on 338.

Australia resumed on 166 for two after rain had played spoil sport on the opening day. The pair of Marnus Labuschange (91: 196b, 11x4) and Steve Smith added 100 runs for the third wicket.

Labuschange fell to Ravindra Jadeja and thereafter there was a batting collapse. Australia slipped from 206 for two to 278 for seven.

Then Mitchell Starc (24) struck some lusty blows towards the end. Smith remained steadfast as he reached his 27th Test hundred to finish on 131 off 226 balls with 16 boundaries.

For India the key wicket-takers were Jadeja (4-62), Navdeep Saini (2-65) and Jasprit Bumrah (2-66).

Jadeja also played a part with his sharp fielding as he ran out Smith to end Australia innings.

In their response India had raced to 70 for no loss with their newest opening pair of Rohit Sharma (26) and Shubman Gill looking good. Gill was finally out for 50 off 101 balls with eight boundaries. The key wicket-takers for Australia were Pat Cummins (1-19) and Josh Hazlewood (1-23).

Match Summary - Australia v India, 2nd Day, Third Test, Sydney Cricket Ground, Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Australia 1st Innings: 338 (105.4)

Fall of wickets: 1-6 (David Warner-3.3 ov), 2-106 (Will Pucovski-34.2 ov), 3-206 (Marnus Labuschagne-70.5 ov), 4-232 (Matthew Wade-76.5 ov), 5-249 (Cameron Green-84.5 ov), 6-255 (Tim Paine-88.5 ov), 7-278 (Pat Cummins-94.4 ov), 8-310 (Mitchell Starc-101.5 ov), 9-315 (Nathan Lyon-102.4 ov), 10-338 (Steven Smith-105.4 ov)

India 1st Innings: 96-2 (45)

Fall of wickets: 1-70 (Rohit Sharma-26.6 ov), 2-85 (Shubman Gill-32.1 ov)

Close of Play - Stumps - Day 2 - India trail by 242 runs.

Scorecard

Rahane and Pujara survive as India finish the day on 96/2, a deficit of 242 after Australia posted 338.

Who was the star of the day?#AUSvIND SCORECARD ? https://t.co/Zuk24dsH1t pic.twitter.com/QPB4AFg9eg
— ICC (@ICC) January 8, 2021

Playing XIs

Australia: David Warner, Will Pucovski, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Matthew Wade, Cameron Green, Tim Paine (captain & wicket-keeper), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini

Match Details

Start Time: 23:30

Toss: Australia won the toss and decided to bat

Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

Officials: Paul Reiffel, Paul Wilson, Bruce Oxenford, Claire Polosak, David Boon