Melbourne Test: India end Day 3 at 54/5; lead by 346 runs

ONI Bureau:  After putting Australia on the mat, thanks to some fine bowling by Jasprit Bumrah, Team India did not enforce follow-on and decided to bat again. However, the Indian batsmen failed line nine pins before Pat Cummins. At the end of 3rd day’s play, India finished at 54/5 although they have extended their lead to 346 runs.

On this deteriorating pitch, India have strong reasons to believe that they have enough runs on board to win this Test and take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four-match series.

In the second innings, Pujara and Kohli failed to open their account, while Vihari (13), Rahane (1) and Rohit (5) disappointed too. Debutant Mayank Agarwal, who scored 76 in the first innings, is batting on 28. Cummins have taken 4 wickets for Australia.

Earlier, Australia bowled out for 151 runs in the first innings in reply to India’s 443/7 declared. Bumrah took 6 wickets for 33 runs while Jadeja took 2 wickets.