The ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy series is currently at 1-1. The third Test match is being played at Sydney Cricket Ground. So far 3 days have been done and dusted. The hosts have by far been the most menacing side as they were superior to India in every aspect of the game.
Batting first, Australia managed to post a total of 338 at the expense of all the wickets. Steve Smith was the pick of the batsmen as he scored a wonderful 27th Test century. While he was en route to scoring a big knock, he was run out by Ravindra Jadeja’s rocket-arm throw.
Smith departed after scoring a sensational 131. His innings included a flurry of 16 fours. Marnus Labuschagne was the next batsman for the hosts as he departed after making 91. Ravindra Jadeja took his wicket. The debutant Will Puckovski had a pretty decent day at the office as he scored 62.
Jadeja was the pick of the bowlers for India in the first innings as he accounted for 4 dismissals. The likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Navdeep Saini took 2 wickets each. In reply to Australia’s 1st innings total, India provided a solid start in the form of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill.
The opening pair added a 70-run stand for the first wicket, which is India’s first-ever 50-plus stand in 14 innings. Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara were the top batsmen for the visitors.
Both scored a fifty apiece. Pat Cummins was the pick of the bowlers for the hosts as he took 4 wickets. Josh Hazlewood took 2 wickets to his name. Mitchell Starc took a wicket to his credit.
Hazlewood and Jadeja stare at each other
After India lost Rishabh Pant for 36 runs, Ravindra Jadeja came out to bat to face the music. At that time, the scorecard reads 195/5. When Jadeja took guard he faced CSK teammate Josh Hazlewood.
Quite interestingly, both of them were involved in an epic staring contest. However, that didn’t look like any serious as there was a smile on each others’ faces in the end.
When Jadeja came out to bat, he played a dot ball off Josh Hazlewood’s bowling during the 5th ball of the 88th over. Soon after the delivery, both were engaged in epic CSK staredown. The video of which is doing the rounds on the internet.
Jadeja looked rock-solid with the bat as he played aggressive cricket. He smashed as many as 5 fours to his name. The all-rounder stayed till the end and after India lost 9 wickets, Jadeja’s partner Mohammed Siraj tried his best to not lose a wicket.
Although he hit 6 runs to his name, he eventually fell prey to Pat Cummins’ bowling. On the other end, Jadeja remained not out on 28 as India were bowled out for 244 in 100.4 overs.
Watch the video:
Australia in driver’s seat
The hosts are in total control of the game now. They came out to bat with a lead of 94 runs. Team India did provide a great start in the form of Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Siraj. Ashwin dismissed David Warner while Siraj got rid of Will Pukovski. Australia lead by 197 runs as Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith are batting on 47 and 29 respectively.
