IND vs AUS: The third day of the ongoing Test match between India and Australia at the Gabba, Brisbane saw repeated rain interruptions that limited play to only 33.1 overs. Despite these interruptions, Australia managed to consolidate its position in the match. At the end of the day, India was struggling at 51/4, with only 17 overs bowled in its innings, while Australia had already tightened its grip on the game.
Rain Delays Play and Shortens the Day
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On the third day of the Test match, it continued raining, which frequently interrupted play. The day was curtailed and could not be fully completed before a rain-induced halt made play impossible. Just 33.1 overs were bowled all day. Australia managed 16.1 overs before it was their turn again while India batted for 17 overs. Still, in all the play that did go on, Australia managed to improve its position in the game more so than India.
Australia’s strong position after the IND vs AUS Test, Day 3
Australia began the day on a total of 405/7, adding 130 runs in 27 overs during the second session on the previous day. The real highlight of Australia’s first innings was the 241-run partnership between Travis Head with 152 and Steve Smith with 101. It had virtually taken the hosts into a dominating position by the end of Day 2.
On Day 3, Australia added 40 more runs, taking their total to 445 before losing their final three wickets. The performance with the bat was solid, with Alex Carey remaining unbeaten on 45 and Mitchell Starc at 7 runs when rain curtailed play.
India Struggles with the Bat
India did not have a very smooth response as they lost four crucial wickets for just 51 runs in the 17 overs they batted on Day 3. Australia’s bowlers exploited the conditions well, reducing India to a challenging situation early in their innings. The Indian side’s performance in this brief period of play was disappointing, as they could not establish any solid partnerships.
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Mitchell Starc picked up early wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, putting the Indians on the back foot from the start. Jaiswal was a flick to get on the leg stump as he was caught while Gill chases a full delivery to be caught outside the off stump by Mitchell Marsh. These quick falls put pressure on the middle order of Indians.
Hope for Indians Rests with Rohit and Rahul
After the early dismissals, India’s captain Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul were left with the task of rebuilding the innings. This was a necessary partnership for India to avoid any further collapse and get some momentum into their chase. At the close of play, India was at 51/4, with Rohit and Rahul at the crease, trying to stem the tide of Australia’s dominance.
Indian Bowlers’ Efforts in Australia’s First Innings
Indian bowlers enjoyed some success in the game, even though rain did not let the proceedings go smoothly. Jasprit Bumrah was very impressive with the ball as he took five wickets for 72 runs in 25 overs, carrying on from the previous games of the series. His spell saw India successfully break the Australian partnership, though they were able to take their total to 445 runs.
Akash Deep, playing the first match of the series, bowled well but didn’t get any wickets. Mohammed Siraj and Nitish Kumar Reddy each picked a wicket to reduce Australia’s initial innings. The Indian team was able to take some quality wickets but the damage caused by Head and Smith had already propelled Australia on their way to a large total.
Key Takeaways of IND vs AUS Day 3
While rain played a crucial role in shortening the play, it was evident that Australia dominated on Day 3. The visitors were under immense pressure, having lost four wickets and scored only 51 runs on the board. Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul needed to put up a spirited fight to keep India in the game, and rain that was forecasted for the following day would add more trouble to the proceedings.
With 445 for their first innings total, Australia is pretty well on top; the task from the Indian end to turn it around would need a Herculean effort to bring back their chances to a competitive equation in this game. For India to stay afloat in this contest, they should form good partnerships and try to carry it deep into the fourth innings when rain will assist them on day five of this test. The play of the following day might be decisive in setting the tone for the match.
ALSO READ: IND vs AUS: Head And Smith Builds Strong Innings On Day 2
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