Ajinkya Rahane and boys, bring Australia down on knees

 Boxing Day Melbourne Test Day 3:

Ajinkya Rahane and boys, bring Australia down on knees

Oh what a performance by Ajinkya Rahane and boys! Another great day for Test Match cricket, especially for resurgent Team India down under at Melbourne Cricket Ground. On third day of historic Boxing Day cricket match. Australia desperately struggling to avoid defeat. They are just 2 runs ahead with 6 wickets down. India has got a great opportunity to level the four test match series 1-1.Who would have thought that on third day itself India would be in such a commanding, dominating position. Facing first innings deficit of 131 runs Australians were 99 for 6 in second innings when Captain Tim Paine got out. And were looking down the barrel for innings defeat. But the all rounder Cameron Green-17* and Pat Cummins-15* put up stiff resistance with unbeaten partnership of 34 runs off 18.2 overs in the last hour of the day. In the process wiping out India`s first innings lead.

India started third day morning, with overnight 277 for 5 - Ajinkya Rahane 104* and Ravindra Jadeja 40*, with the idea of extending 82 runs lead into region of 150 to 200.All seemed to be shaping well up to 294. In the 9^th over of the morning, Rahane got run out while stealing a single to help Jadeja to complete his half century. Just fell short by one frame on the line. What a bizarre way to get out after doing all the hard work for more than half an hour and playing out fiery Aussie pacers. Mind you this was the first time for Rahane to lose wicket in the form of run out, in his career of 66 tests and 111 innings. Probably with couple of dropped catches, this was the only way left to get out. Like a true leader Rahane did console Jadeja before leaving for the pavilion and told to forget and carry on. India was 99 runs ahead then. Eventually Jadeja completed the half century followed by his characteristic sword celebration. Starc and Cummins sensed the opportunity to bowl Indians out. Starc bombarded Jadeja with barrage of short pitched bouncers. Jadeja walked into the all evident trap, in trying to counter attack, holed to deep mid-wicket. Later Ravichandran Ashwin too got hit on the chest and Umesh Yadav on shoulder. This might have ignited the spark in Indian bowlers mind. As their aggressive approach and body language was refreshing to see, during Aussie second innings. After Rahane`s departure, last 4 Indian wickets added 32 runs. Indian innings folded at 326, thereby getting quite sizable lead of 131.

Umesh Yadav made early inroads in the Aussie second innings, by removing opener Joe Burns in his very second over. 4 for 1. Yadav was having excellent opening spell, but unfortunately pulled his calf muscle in his 4^th over. Yadav limping off the field, so early in the innings did cause few concerns in the Indian camp. But Rahane with innovative fielding placement ensured to keep Aussie batsman under pressure. Ashwin came into the attack as early as in 10^th over of the innings. Jasprit Bumrah was bowling with his usual penetration. Opener Wade with changed, patience approach and in form Marnus Labuschagne continued anyhow up to 42. Beauty from Ashwin made Labuschagne to edge one in the safe hands of Rahane at first slip.42-2. Steven Smith with his unconventional approach anyhow survived against Ashwin. But consistent Bumrah bowled him by removing just a leg stump bail, lightly brushing his pad on the way. Shuffling across and dancing in the crease did not worked for Smith this time. His 30 ball struggle, for 8 runs, ultimately ended at 71-3. Rahane kept handling his limited bowling resources effectively sans Yadav, in his usual cool manner. This time Jadeja responded well and removed opener Wade (40) trapping in front, for clean lbw, making 98/4. It was debutant Siraj who got the wicket of Head, after couple of overs on the very score 98/5.Indian bowlers continued to keep tight leash on under pressure Australian batsmen. Jadeja again struck back to remove Captain Tim Pain, caught behind by Pant, on just 1 run at 99. 99-6.Pain got bit agitated to leave the field ,as review showed nothing on the hotspot technology but clear spike on the Snicko. Australia still needed 32 runs to make India bat again then. But Green and Cummins survived till the day end. How much kangaroo tail can wag on forth day remains to be seen. Barring miraculous performance of lower order batsmen, weather interruption Indian victory is a certainty.

Jasprit Bumrah removes Smith 

Day 3 Stumps

Photo source - FB Pages.