Team Australia is back again in the driver’s seat after bundling up team India for 244 runs on day 3 of the ongoing third test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Resuming the day on 96/2, Ajinkya Rahane-led team India were bundled out for a moderated 244 runs, handing over a mammoth 94-run lead to the hosts. Australia scalped six Indian wickets for just 49 runs in the post-lunch session.
The Australian bowlers displayed some disciplined bowling and sharp fielding efforts as they shattered India’s batting line-up. Team India was struggling badly on 216/9 before Ravindra Jadeja’s heroics brought Australia’s lead under 100 runs.
With the hosts on 180/4, the second session commenced like the first as off-spinner Nathan Lyon started the proceedings before the fast bowlers took the game by storm. Rishabh Pant and Cheteshwar Pujara looked like they have gotten to grips with both the pitch and the new ball.
Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood put on a show with their bowling partnership and soon Pant fell prey to the same. A bouncer delivered by Cummings struck Rishabh Pant’s left elbow after which he was seen in a lot of pain.
On the other hand, Pujara scored his slowest fifty. He scored his half-century off 174 balls, beating his previous slowest knock against South Africa in 2018, which he pulled off in 173 balls.
However, what hurt India more was the fact that Pujara was dismissed immediately after getting to his fifty. Australia’s Pat Cummins bowled a brilliant delivery that hit the outside edge of Pujara’s bat to sent India on the backfoot. Pujara was dismissed for 51 runs off 176 balls as India lost their sixth wicket.
Later, R Ashwin tried to bring the momentum to the game. He kickstarted his knock with a 15-ball 10. However, he was guilty of poor running between the wickets and fell short to a Mitchell Starc throw from mid-off.
The same thing happened with Jasprit Bumrah as Jadea called for two but a direct hit from Marnus caught the Indian paceman at the non-striker’s end. Jadeja remained unbeaten on 28 off 37 balls, despite suffering a blow on his left thumb.
Meanwhile, social media was flooded with reactions from the fans. While there were many who expressed their disappointment, on the other hand, there were many who came up with hilarious memes on the same.
Here, check out the reactions of Twitterati on this:
#INDvsAUS
Some slowest creatures on earth pic.twitter.com/9z04d1dUsP— Ankit Pathak ?? (@ankit_acerbic) January 9, 2021
https://twitter.com/dark__horse007/status/1347746565423734785?s=20
Woke up at 5 to watch India’s battings, watched Pujara and Rahane’s batting for 15 mins and they made me to sleep again
#INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/wnwP92FDZv
— Rahul (@__r_a_h_u_l___) January 9, 2021
Indians to Saini right now:#INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/FVdthblWhb
— Abhinandan Nahata (@khelgyani_abhi) January 9, 2021
When you wake up at 4:30 in the morning just to watch 2 wickets falling and Pujara defending.#INDvsAUS #maaepujjiBC pic.twitter.com/6HjCe2VYsi
— J N Surya (@surya_jn) January 9, 2021
#INDvsAUS
Rishabh Pant after making 25 runs in any test innings : pic.twitter.com/Llv9p1l60B— Rehaan ツ ?? (@imreyhaan) January 9, 2021
#INDvsAUS
Rishabh Pant After scoring 25+ Runs ~ pic.twitter.com/phAy3owfW4— Amit (@AmitTweets27) January 9, 2021
#??????????? #INDvsAUS #IndiavsAustralia
??????????? after making 25-40 runs in an test inning: pic.twitter.com/GM34OsiSBN— Prasad (@munna_30_) January 9, 2021
