India was seemingly in control of its innings, as it is chasing 407 in the third Test for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). At stumps, on Day 4, India is 309 runs behind, having lost a couple of wickets, while opener, Rohit Sharma struck a half-century.
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Earlier, after winning the toss and electing to bat, Australia had posted a total of 338. As for India, it was skittled out for 244, with Australia earning a 94-run lead, while as of now, it looks to be on the driver's seat.
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Resuming at the overnight score of 1032, Labuschagne and Smith's pair added 35 more, before the former fell for 73 to pacer Navdeep Saini, after edging it behind to stand-in wicketkeeper, Wriddhiman Saha. Just ten runs later, Saini provided the second breakthrough of the day, as wicketkeeper-batsman, Matthew Wade similarly fell for mere four.
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Nonetheless, it was since then the pair of Smith and Cameron Green, who took charge. While Smith scored his 30th Test half-century, Labuschagne scored his ninth, as the lunch break was called in.
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As Australia resumed its innings in the post-lunch session, at the score of 1824, it was 26 runs later when Smith was trapped leg-before by off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin once again, who was dismissed for 81. Nonetheless, the pair of Green and skipper, Tim Paine, contributed to a 104-run stand for the sixth wicket.
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Green eventually brought up his maiden Test half-century. Meanwhile, he began smashing to accelerate his bid for a century, only to edge it behind to Saha, off Bumrah, for 84, as Australia led by 406, as the tea break was called in. At the same time, Australia came up with the declaration.
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Prior to the tea, the play was briefly halted, as pacer Mohammed Siraj alleged that he was racially abused by a crowd section, just like last evening. As the umpires prompted action, the police cleared some group area before the play resumed.
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Four bowlers were utilised for the Indians, with Saini and Ashwin tasting the most success, with a couple of scalps. The visitor is already a bowler short, with all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja being ruled out with a thumb injury.
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As the Indians came out for the chase on the post-tea session, the openers, Rohit and Shubman Gill were off to a commanding start, contributing to a 71-run stand. The latter was the first to fall, for 31, as Paine caught him behind, off Josh Hazlewood.
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Meanwhile, Rohit brought up his 11 Test half-century, only to fall a couple of runs later, at the score of 92, as Mitchell Starc caught him at the fine leg, off pacer, Pat Cummins. Nonetheless, it was the pair of Cheteshwar Pujara (9*) and Ajinkya Rahane (4*), who stayed unbeaten at the end of day's play.
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Among the Australian bowlers, Hazlewood and the Cummins are the ones to have been impactful so far, while a total of five bowlers have been utilised. They would fancy their chances at the Indians early on Day 5, with a couple of their batsmen not entirely fit to bat.Brief scores: Australia 338 and 3126 dec (Labuschagne 73, Smith 81, Green 84; Saini 254, Ashwin 295) leads India 244 and 982 (Rohit 52; Hazlewood 111) by 309 runs.
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