Twitter Reactions: India close in on a memorable win in Melbourne after picking six wickets of Australia in second innings

Australia have a lead of only two runs and they have four wickets in hand in the second innings.

By Aditya Gajanan Kukalyekar verified

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6 Min Read

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India. (Photo Source: Getty Images)

Team India is very close to completing a memorable comeback win after their indifferent performance in the second innings in Adelaide. Not many would’ve given them a chance to fight back the way they have done so far in the ongoing Melbourne Test. The bowling attack led by Jasprit Bumrah has been relentless right through and the Australian batsmen have simply not been able to withstand it.

The third and the most crucial day of probably the series began with Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja, the overnight batsmen, aiming to stretch India’s lead. Australia’s bowlers were once again were accurate in their lines not giving away easy runs. The two batsmen weren’t in much hurry either as they accumulated runs patiently. But a misjudged single ended a heroic innings of the ‘Indian captain’ again.

Rahane scored 112 with 12 fours and the 121-run stand was finally broken. And from there on, it was all about Australia as India’s tail didn’t wag yet again. Ravindra Jadeja got to his well deserved half-century but fell into the bouncer trap off Mitchell Starc. The rest of the three batsmen didn’t add much then as India were bundled out for 326 with a lead of 131 runs in their kitty.

India bowlers star again in the second innings

The day was deemed the best to bat on Monday at the MCG and there was not much movement for the bowlers either. Australia had a great chance to bat well and wipe out the deficit without losing many wickets. However, their out of form opener Joe Burns’ poor run continued. Jasprit Bumrah kept him on his toes with superb lines as he even survived a close lbw shout.

However, Umesh Yadav bowled a snorter of a delivery to find an edge of his bat. The pace bowler, unfortunately, pulled his calf later in the session to walk off the field. But that didn’t dampen the spirits of other bowlers as Ravi Ashwin emulated the Smith dismissal from Adelaide perfectly to trap Marnus Labuschagne.

Steve Smith’s 29-ball resistance was ended by Jasprit Bumrah with the leg-stump trap as Australia’s number four once again failed to reach the double-figures. From 71/3, Matthew Wade and Travis Head rebuilt the innings well with the former looking more assured with every passing over.

This time around though it was Ravindra Jadeja who troubled him and pinned Wade in front of the stumps. Australia endured a stunning collapse then to get reduced to 99/6 from 98/3 in the space of 23 deliveries. Travis Head edged one to the second slip off Mohammed Siraj while Jadeja nipped out the Aussie captain Tim Paine which turned out to be a controversial decision from the third decision.

At 99/6, with more than 90 minutes to go for stumps, Australia fans might have feared of losing the game by an innings. But their lower-order continued to frustrate India. Pat Cummins and the newbie Cameron Green blocked and blocked and blocked before slowly adding runs. The duo dug in for 112 deliveries to stitch a 34-run unbeaten stand and also took the team past India’s 131-run lead.

Australia ended the day on 133/6 with a lead of only two runs and they will be hoping to at least add 100 more runs to have something to bowl at for the bowlers. India, on the other hand, are breathing fire with the ball and they will be keen to wrap things up quickly on the fourth morning.

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