NEW DELHI: Australia could add only 40 runs to their overnight total before getting bowled out for 445 as Jasprit Bumrah finished with a six-wicket haul on the third day of the Brisbane Test at the Gabba. But the Aussie pacers came out to run through India’s top-order and put their team in firm control despite rain and bad light allowing just 33.1 overs of play.
At close of play, India were reeling at 51 for 4, with opener KL Rahul scoring 30 of those and remaining unbeaten alongside captain Rohit Sharma, who is yet to open his account.
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BUMRAH SHOW CONTINUES
Bumrah added another wicket to the five he took with the second new ball on Sunday and registered figures of 6 for 76, which is his second five-for of the series, taking his tally of wickets so far in this Border Gavaskar Trophy to 18.
Bumrah struck the opening blow on Monday to remove Mitchell starc (18), and Akash Deep finally had the luck on his side after going past the bat on numerous occasions on the second day.
Akash took Alex Carey out of the equation, but not before the Australian wicketkeeper had completed his half-century and added 25 more runs to his overnight score for a knock of 70 runs.
India’s spinner of choice for this match, Ravindra Jadeja, remained wicketless in the 23 overs he delivered, while Mohammed Siraj took two wickets and Akash Deep and Nitish Kumar Reddy claimed one apiece.
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INDIA’S TOP ORDER BLOWN AWAY
Mitchell Starc had Yashasvi Jaiswal’s (4) number once again, dismissing the young opener off the second ball of Indian innings, when his flick on a juicy half-volley on the legs went straight to Mitchell Marsh. The first ball of Starc’s next over saw Shubman Gill (1) walking back, with Marsh taking his second catch of the day, this time a stunning diving effort in the gully region.
At 6 for 2, Virat Kohli walked in to join KL Rahul, who looked the most assured of all the Indian batters. But Kohli’s stay lasted just 16 balls and 3 runs, as he got sucked into a drive to the one bowled outside his off-stump by Josh Hazlewood, and it took an edge on its way to Carey.
Rishabh Pant came out to bat ahead of Rohit, but captain Pat Cummins got the better of him, getting the Indian wicketkeeper caught behind by his opposite number Carey for 9.
Rohit battled six deliveries but couldn’t get off the mark before bad light stopped play, which forced the umpires to call stumps, with India trailing by 394 runs and having just six wickets in hand.
RAIN CONTINUES TO FRUSTRATE PLAYERS
It was another stop-start day, after the first day of the match saw just 13.2 overs being bowled.
The heavens kept opening, which neither allowed the batters to settle nor the Australian bowlers to dent India further after putting the visitors on the mat with early blows.
The forecast for Tuesday is not good either, with 90% chance of showers in the morning and afternoon.
At this stage, with India 51 for 4 and staring down the barrel, the visitors won’t mind rain in the air. A draw looks the best result possible for India from here on, with Australia itching to get back on the field and possibly force a follow-on.
