On Friday, India stayed in control on Day 2 of the third Test for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). At stumps, India was 962, while Shubman Gill's half-century earlier put India in firm control, trailing by 242 runs.
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On Day 1, Australian skipper, Tim Paine, had won the toss and elected to bat first. Although the day was curtailed by a couple of rain breaks, Australia managed to stay on top, as it finished the day on 1662, courtesy Will Pucovski's 62.
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Resuming at the overnight score, the pair of Labuschagne and Steve Smith did good, as the latter also brought up his 30th Test half-century. However, following a 100-run stand, Labuschagne fell nine runs short to his century, as he handed a catch to skipper Ajinkya Rahane in the slips, off Ravindra Jadeja, at the score of 206.
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It was 26 runs later, when Matthew Wade fell for mere 13 to Jadeja again, as he miscalculated a shot and was caught by Jasprit Bumrah. Just 16 runs later, at the score of 249, it was all-rounder Cameron Green, who was trapped leg-before by Bumrah for an unfortunate duck, as his slow 21-ball innings came to a premature end, while lunch was called in.
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Resuming post lunch, at the score of 249, it as just six runs later when Paine was cleaned up by Bumrah for just a single. It was 23 runs later, at the score of 278 when Pat Cummins fell for an unfortunate duck to Jadeja, who knocked him over.
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During this time, Smith brought up his 27th Test century. Although Mitchell Starc tried to lead a fightback, he lost his wicket in an intention to steer the innings in a hurry, for 23, as Saini made him caught by Shubman Gill, at the score of 310.
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Nathan Lyon, too, fell for an unfortunate duck to Jadeja, who trapped him leg-before, just five runs later. Meanwhile, Smith was the final man to depart, as he was brilliantly run out by Jadeja for 131, while Australia was packed up for 338.
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Among the Indians, Jadeja was undoubtedly the star with the ball, claiming 462, besides being the active one on the field as well. The others did contribute decently, barring off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin.
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As the Indians came out to bat, it was a steady start from the openers, with Aussie bowlers struggling to get an early breakthrough. While Rohit Sharma was unbeaten on 11, Shubman Gill was batting on 14, as the sides headed into the tea break.
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As India continued with its batting in the post-tea session, at the score of 260, the openers put up a 70-run stand. However, Rohit was dismissed for 26 by Hazlewood, after being caught and bowled by himself.
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Meanwhile, Gill brought up his maiden Test half-century, while he fell for the same off Cummins, after being caught by Green, as the score read 852. Nonetheless, the pair of Cheteshwar Pujara and Akinkya Rahane batted out for the rest of the day and stayed unbeaten on single figures.
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As for the Aussies, they utilised four bowlers, including their lone spinner, Nathan Lyon. Hazlewood and Cummins are the only ones to taste success so far, as the opening session on Day 3 looks to be promising for both sides.Brief scores: Australia 338 (Pucovski 62, Labuschagne 91, Smith 131; Jadeja 262) leads India 962 (Gill 50; Cummins 119) by 242 runs.
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