Sydney: Grit, resilience and character all were witnessed with Test cricket at its very best as Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin worked their hearts off towards the final session of the final day to draw the third Test match in Sydney on Monday (December 11) clinching from a throat of defeat.
Vihari batted with a hamstring injury for over three hours for 23 off 160 balls with Ashwin giving good support with a gritty 39 off 128 balls taking India to 334/5 leaving the Aussies frustrated in the afternoon. Earlier, India resumed the fifth day at 98/2 needing 309, chasing a target of 407.
But the start was a poor one. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane was dismissed for just four in the second over of the day caught behind by Matthew Wade off the bowling of Nathan Lyon. A huge job was left to be done by experienced Cheteshwar Pujara who along with a young Rishabh Pant started to take the fight to the Aussies.
However, the Australian bowlers were firing in all cylinders especially with Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood testing the pair a few times. Settling early nerves, Pant counter-attacked exquisitely sending a message to the hosts that he would not go anywhere without a fight smashing the bowlers to all parts and together with Pujara, took the score to 206/3 at lunch building a partnership of 148 runs giving hope to India for a revival.
However, his hard-fought innings came to end just three short of what could have been a memorable knock when he went for a big-hit of Lyon’s bowling mistiming it before finding Cummins at the point for 97 which included 12 fours and three huge sixes.
India’s hope started to fade away soon as Pujara was bowled by Hazlewood with a gem of a delivery that held its line beating the defence for a stubborn 77. A possible 2-1 lead in the series for Australia looked evident at the point.
With 135 still to win and five wickets in hand the rear-guard action was done by Vihari and Ashwin taking the game from the scruff of the neck to frustrate the hosts showing great character, composure and technique building a 62 run partnership for the sixth wicket to keep the series alive. The next test is scheduled to take place in Brisbane, starting January 15.
