India draw the third test to level the series 1-1
Third Test, Sydney Cricket Ground
Australia 338ao off 105.4ov, Smith 131 off 226, 16 fours, Labuschagne 91 off 196, 11 fours, Jadeja 4-62, Bumrah 2-66, Saini 2-65
Australia 2nd Innings 312-6 dec off 87ov ( Green 84 off 132, 8 fours, 4 sixes, Smith 81 off 167, 8 fours, 1 six, Paine 39 off 52, 6 fours, Siani 2-54, R Ashwin 2-95.
India 244ao off 100.4 ov, Gill 50 off 101, 8 fours, Pujara 50 off 176, 5 fours, Rohit Sharma 26 off 77, 3 fours, 1 six, Pant 36 off 67, 4 fours, Hazlewood 2-43, Cummins 4-29, Starc 1-61.
India Second Innings 334-5 off 131 ov Rohit Sharma 52 off 98, 5 fours, 1 six, Pant 97 off 118, 12 fours, 3 sixes, Pujara 77 off 205, 12 fours, R Ashwin 39 0ff 128, 7 fours, Hazlewood 2-39, Lyon 2-114, Cummins 1-72.
Match drawn, the series level at 1-1
India denied an Australian win after they displayed incredible defiance to bat out the final day in a memorable draw in the Third Test and take a thrilling series into a decider.
The tourist resumed 98-2, chasing an unlikely total of 407 to win, and lost captain Ajinkya Rahane early on. Rishabh Pant contributed 97 and Cheteshwar Pujara dug in for 77 during the second session. Although there were hopes that India could even pull off the third-highest fourth-innings chase in Test History, both fell before tea to leave Australia needing five wickets in the final session. Hanuma Vihari 23 not out off 161 balls and Ravichandran Ashwin 39 not out off 128 deliveries, batted to survive 256 balls to steer India to 334-5 at the close. Australian captain and wicketkeeper Tim Paine dropped three catches, while his vaunted fast bowlers and off-spinner Nathan Lyon toiled on a pitch which remarkably did not deteriorate on the fifth day. Paine missed a catch to dismiss Pant for three and he punished the mistake ruthlessly, lofting Lyon for three massive sixes as he reached his third Test fifty form 64 balls. He was dropped again by Paine on 56 – also off Lyon, Pujara accumulated 77 off 205 balls before he was bowled by Josh Hazlewood.
The series is level at 1-1 heading into the fourth and final Test in Brisbane starting on 15 January.
India who was bowled out for 36 in the first Test defeat needs only a draw to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy, While Australia has not lost at the Gabba since 1988.
However, the Third Test will be remembered for allegations of racist abuse against Indian players by members of the crowd at the SCG.