India’s Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep created an unlikely 10th-wicket partnership to avoid defeat on Tuesday and put the third Test against Australia in Brisbane on course for a draw.
When the pair came together, the tourists still needed 33 runs to make Australia bat again at the Gabba on another day marred by rain delays.
But in dismal conditions, the pair managed to fend off Australia’s vaunted pace attack and frustrate the home team on the fourth day.
Deep scored the crucial runs with a lead on the boundary, just past the outstretched hand of Nathan McSweeney against Australian captain Pat Cummins.
He celebrated two balls later by smashing Cummins deep at mid-wicket for a massive six before the umpires dismissed them for bad light with India 252-9, trailing by 193 runs.
The five-game series is currently tied 1-1.
Opener KL Rahul, who top scored 84, said the lower order batting showed how tough this Indian team was.
Deep was 27 not out and Bumrah was 10.
“The lower order races are something we discuss in our meetings,” Rahul said.
“The bowlers are also working really hard on their shots, so it’s good to see them form this partnership.”
“Avoiding these follow-ups makes a big difference.”
Without pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood, who could only bowl one delivery on Tuesday after suffering a game-ending calf injury, Cummins (4-80) and Mitchell Starc (3-83) worked hard to pick up the wickets.
After Saturday and Monday were almost entirely canceled due to rain, the game was interrupted three more times on Tuesday.
During this period, India managed to get closer to the follow-on target despite losing wickets at crucial moments.
But Deep and Bumrah fought hard and put on 39 runs in dark skies and light rain.
“I think the only way to force the game was to force the follow-up,” Australia bowling coach Daniel Vettori said.
“There was a desperation to get the last wicket.”
As Rahul continued the morning at 51-4, he was taken out of the game on the first ball of the day when Steve Smith somehow missed a simple catch at first slip.
Rahul and India captain Rohit Sharma had no chance in the first half hour, taking the score to 74 before Rohit deflected a Cummins delivery that went slightly out of bounds to wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
Rahul took advantage of Smith’s error on the first ball and scored an impressive half-century with a beautiful cover attack just before a rain shower forced the players off the field for 25 minutes.
He increased his overnight total by 51 runs before Smith made amends with a stunning catch to dismiss Rahul, diving to his right and making a one-handed catch at first slip 20 minutes before lunch.
Nitish Kumar Reddy and Ravindra Jadeja added 53 and looked more and more relaxed.
However, just when it looked like the pair would take the score to the 246 needed to avoid the knock-on, Cummins broke through as Reddy played on 16, leaving Jadeja with just the bowlers to try , to avoid the second look.
Rain forced an early win and after the break, Jadeja began to take control, extending the strike and moving to 77 before he holed Mitchell Marsh at deep square leg.
Bumrah and Deep then came together for their unforgettable partnership.
