India vs Australia, 3rd Test: Pat Cummins keeps India waiting at MCG

MELBOURNE: Twenty-seven years after Sunil Gavaskar’s men had snatched an unlikely victory at the MCG and shared the series honours in 1980-81, Virat Kohli and his boys find themselves on the cusp of a historic triumph here that could well pave the way for India’s maiden Test series win Australia.
The Indian team, having set Australia a mammoth 399-run winning target, bowled magnificently for a second time in as many days to leave Australia gasping on 258/8.India’s charge to victory was held up by a gallant knock by Pat Cummins.
The Australian pacer, who had earlier in the day, returned career-best figures with the ball, picking 6/27 in India’s second innings, also made his highest score (61*) with the bat. His unfinished 43-run partnership for the ninth wicket Nathan Lyon (6) kept Australia afloat.
The Australian pair defied Indian bowlers for 14.1 overs --- after having joined forces on 215/8 at the fall of Mitchell Starc’s wicket ---- to force the match into the fifth day. Skipper Kohli tried every trick in the trade, including taking the second new ball and opting for an extra half-hour in a bid to finish the match on Saturday, but the duo held firm.

There is hardly anything cause for panic, though. India have the whole of last day to claim Australia’s two remaining wickets in order to take a 2-1 lead to Sydney where the final Test will be played from January 3. The home team, which still requires 141 runs for victory with only No.11 Josh Hazlewood to come --- will need a miracle to pull it off, or a washout on the final day for a draw.
There is little chance of both and it should be a matter of time before India wrap it up on Sunday morning to ensure that the Border-Gavaskar Trophy remains with them.
Resuming on 54/5, Mayank Agarwal and Rishabh Pant made merry on a cloudy morning. Agarwal made his intentions clear by smacking off-spinner Lyon for two sixes ---once each over long- off and long-on in the bowler’s second over of the day --- before becoming Cummins’ fifth victim of the innings. Agarwal (42) played one onto his stumps while Ravindra Jadeja was dismissed by the same bowler when he fended a short ball to Usman Khawaja at gully. Pant (33), who lived a charmed life crunched Hazlewood onto the sight-screen before an attempted uppercut of the same bowler ended up In Tim Paine’s gloves, prompting Kohli to declare on 106/8.

India, having virtually batted Australia out of the match, then went all-out to force victory. The home team, which had been dismissed for 151 in 66.5 overs on Day 3, fared only as shade better in their second essay. Aaron Finch edged a short one from Jasprit Bumrah to Kohli at slip and his opening partner Marcus Harris popped up the ball to forward short-leg off while trying to defend a delivery from Jadeja off his front foot.
Khawaja looked the more assured of the lot in making 33 before Shami cannoned one onto his back leg to trap him lbw. Even a review could not save Khawaja. Shaun Marsh, once again, looked most accomplished while making 44 before falling lbw to Bumrah. He looked a touch unlucky with the ‘umpire’s call’ but there was no excuse for Travis Head to drag a wide one from Ishant Sharma onto his stumps after having batted impressively to make 34.
All credit to Bumrah, Jadeja and Shami, who kept changing their line and length to send the Aussies to their doom. Mitch Marsh drove Jadeja uppishly to Kohli at cover, but skipper Paine battled hard in making a 67-ball 26 before being foxed by Jadeja, bowling from over-the-wicket. The writing was on the wall for Australia when they lost Starc late in the day, but Cummins and Lyon held firm.
Cummins, who has so far faced 103 balls and struck five boundaries and a six in his chance-less knock, will be looking to delay the inevitable on Sunday.