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Australia Clinch Advantage With Big Lead

by Sandeep Shivam Monday 29 December 2014

Shaun Marsh with an unbeaten fifty helped Australia clinch a crucial advantage of 326-run lead

Australia 261-7 (Marsh 62 no) & 530 (Smith 192) v
India 465 (Kohli 169, Rahane 147)
Third Test, Day Four, Melbourne
Scorecard

Shaun Marsh with an unbeaten fifty helped Australia clinch a crucial advantage of 326-run lead on day four of the third Test match at Melbourne.

Earlier in the day, Australia wrapped up the remaining two wickets of India in a span of just three overs.

Mitchell Johnson dismissed Umesh Yadav (0) and Mohammad Shami (12) as India concluded its innings at 465 runs, gifting Australians a handy 65-run lead.

Australia opening pair Chris Rogers (69) and David Warner (40) got off to a steady start. Ravichandran Ashwin (2-56) provided India the first breakthrough in the fifteenth over when he trapped Warner lbw.

Post lunch, rain interrupted the proceedings as approximately 90 valuable minutes of the day's play were lost.

Ishant Sharma (2-49) opened his account in the wickets tally for this match by dismissing Shane Watson (17) caught behind to Dhoni.

Umesh Yadav (2-73) got the prize wicket of in-form Steven Smith (14) who was caught at leg slip by Rahane while trying to play a wristy flick.

Debutant Joe Burns (9) failed to make his presence felt in the game as he was dismissed cheaply in the second innings by Ishant Sharma.

Australia had lost half of its side for 176 runs with a modest lead of 241 runs on the scoreboard as Shaun Marsh (62 not out) with a compelling knock came to their rescue.

However, Australia kept on losing wickets from the other end as Brad Haddin (13) and Mitchell Johnson (15) failed to support Marsh who kept on battling from the other end.

Ryan Harris (8 not out) joined Marsh for an unbeaten 27-run stand for the eighth wicket before the close of the day's play.

The match is nicely poised for Australia with a fair chance of victory on the fifth day.

India on the other hand would like to draw the game with the help of the weather to avoid another overseas Test defeat.

© Cricket World 2014