India vs Australia Live Cricket Score, 4th Test Day 3: Rain delays start of 3rd session, IND 326/7

UPDATE – 9.59am IST – (4.29am GMT) – Well, the game would have started by now for the third and final session, but it is drizzling outside in Melbourne and the covers are firmly placed on the pitch and courts. Currently, the start of the third session has been officially postponed due to rain.

Australia will not be too unhappy with the current situation as they still have a commanding lead of 148 runs, but they would be keen to remove this batting pair as quickly as possible to maintain dominance in this game. However, there were some concerns in the bowling department, particularly as Mitchell Starc struggled to find his rhythm and looked visibly uncomfortable with his lower back. The new ball period did not bring the breakthroughs hoped for as the conditions offered little support to the seamers and the ball hit the bat well. However, Scott Boland and Pat Cummins created chances here and there and shared five wickets between them, with Nathan Lyon also contributing.

When Jadeja departed, India found itself in dire straits – trailing by 253 runs and facing the very real prospect of moving on. But what happened next was nothing short of remarkable. Nitish Kumar Reddy, showing maturity well beyond his 21 years, delivered an outstanding unbeaten knock of 85. In Washington Sundar he found an able ally, whose support at the other end was invaluable. The face remained fairly favorable and showed little sign of deterioration – which only adds to the frustration at the top-flight’s inability to capitalize on it. Had the other batsmen contributed responsibly, India would have been in a far better position at that point.

Well, the game would have started the third and final session by now, but it’s drizzling outside in Melbourne and the blankets are thick on the pitch and courts. Currently, the start of the third session has been officially postponed.

UPDATE – And suddenly the referees ask the players to leave the field. The piece was canceled due to BAD LIGHT! And now it’s starting to drizzle a little. It’s not that hard at all and will hopefully wear off sooner. But for now the covers are being put in place to protect the playing area and now the pitch is also being covered. And with that, morning tea is drunk on the third day!

Australia will not be too unhappy with the current situation as they still have a commanding lead of 148 runs, but they would be keen to remove this batting pair as quickly as possible to maintain dominance in this game. However, there were some concerns in the bowling department, particularly as Mitchell Starc struggled to find his rhythm and looked visibly uncomfortable with his line and length. The new ball period did not bring the breakthroughs hoped for as the conditions offered little support to the seamers and the ball hit the bat well. However, Scott Boland and Pat Cummins created regular chances here and there and shared five wickets between them, with Nathan Lyon also contributing.

When Jadeja departed, India found itself in dire straits – trailing by 253 runs and facing the very real prospect of moving on. But what happened next was nothing short of remarkable. Showing maturity well beyond his 21 years, Nitish Kumar Reddy delivered an outstanding unbeaten knock of 85. In Washington Sundar he found an able ally, whose unwavering support at the other end was invaluable. The face remained fairly favorable and showed little sign of deterioration – which only adds to the frustration at the top-flight’s inability to capitalize on it. Had the other batsmen contributed responsibly, India would have been in a far better position at that point.

What a fascinating turn of events this moving day witnessed. When Australia managed to dismiss both Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja in quick succession, they seemed to have all the momentum. India found themselves in a precarious position, trailing by seven wickets. However, the complexion of the game changed dramatically as Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy then put up an extraordinary resistance. Their resolute century partnership on the eighth wicket has once again raised India’s hopes as they managed to avoid injury too. So this session goes India’s way and now the tourists have won two sessions while Australia won four out of eight sessions played.

What an engaging gaming session we had after lunch.

UPDATE – And suddenly the referees ask the players to leave the field. The piece was canceled due to BAD LIGHT! And now it’s starting to drizzle a little. It’s not that hard at all and wears off quicker. But for now the covers are being put in place to protect the playing area and now the pitch is also being covered. And with that, morning tea is drunk on the third day!

UPDATE – And suddenly the players leave the field. The piece was canceled due to BAD LIGHT!

96.6 – Length, on the pads, looked away to deep square leg for a single. India are now 148 more runs behind!

Batsman_1: Washington Sundar 40(115)

Batsman_2: Nitish Kumar Reddy 85(119)

Bowler: Mitchell Starc 0/84(22)

Over: 97

Run: 2nd

Goal: 0

Score: 326/7

96.5 – Less than a good length, over the halfway line, Sundar ducks safely under it.

96.4 – Washington Sundar is well positioned, pushes forward and shoots the ball straight into cover.

96.3 – Hits the hard shot from Starc, outside the field, left alone by Sundar.

96.2 – Beaten short and close on the body line, Sundar ducks under it.

96.1 – Good length in the channel outside off. Sundar leaves it alone.

96.1 – NO BALL due to overstepping! Short and around the outside. Sundar deflects the ball to bat but misses it on the top edge.

95.6 – FOUR! Now a mistake from Nathan Lyon in the deep and four more for Nitish! Nitish Kumar Reddy stands tall and punches him through the ceiling. The ball slows down just before the ropes and Nathan Lyon goes after it, but he slips, loses his balance a little and hits the boundary cushions with the ball in his hand as he loses his balance.

Batsman_1: Nitish Kumar Reddy 85(119)

Batsman_2: Washington Sundar 39(108)

Bowler: Mitchell Marsh 0/24(4)

Over: 96

Run: 9

Goal: 0

Score: 324/7

95.5 – FOUR! One bad ball and there will be more runs. At high speed it was not far from Starc and is just ahead of him as he dives forward to catch it.

95.4 – Hard length, outside off, taken from back foot to back point.

95.3 – A little yes or no, but no harm done! Hard length, on-off, Reddy taps it on the off side and tries to sneak a single but is sent back by Sundar.

95.2 – Touch fuller and on middle, Nitish Kumar Reddy blocks the ball straight to the bowler.

95.2 – NO BALL! Marsh has crossed the line here. Back from a length, a real ball of power, up and down a length. Blocked on the offside.

94.5 – Covering a length again, on off, Sundar hits it off the back foot into the cover area.

94.6 – Bumped against the surface on the body line, Sundar sits underneath and lets it sail over the batter.

Batsman_1: Washington Sundar 39(108)

Batsman_2: Nitish Kumar Reddy 77(112)

Bowler: Mitchell Starc 0/82(21)

Over: 95

Run: 4th

Goal: 0

Score: 315/7

95.1 – Marsh is back, replacing Nathan Lyon. Longer ball on offside, Nitish Kumar Reddy taps it offside.

94.4 – Back of a length outside off. Sundar leaves it alone.

94.1 – FOUR! Great successes are now looming for India! A fairly loose player from Starc, offering width outside off on a good length, Washington Sundar rides the bounce, clings to it and punches it through covers for a boundary.

94.3 – A slight tail back to the batter, on middle and leg on a longer length, Washington Sundar pushes it straight to middle.

94.2 – Sundar slides down leg and misses to tuck.

Mitchell Starc is back. He replaces Scott Boland.

93.4 – Plays a good length ball, out of bounds, left alone.

93.3 – Nice and full, quicker and flatter off, Washington Sundar defends it with the outside half of the bat from the short gully region and rushes for a quick single.