New Delhi:
Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane struck confident fifties as India extended their advantage on the fourth day of the Adelaide Test. Pujara was dismissed for 71 while Rahane smashed an attractive fifty but Nathan Lyon ran through the lower order to pick up 6/122 as Australia were set a target of 323. Aaron Finch was given LBW on the second ball but had the decision overturned when Ishant Sharma overstepped. Both Finch and Marcus Harris gave a steady start but both fell in quick succession. Shaun Marsh has been solid and he will be the key for Australia on the final day. (SCORECARD)
That will be stumps on day 4. Marsh and Head have done really well and these two will be the key if Australia are to pull off an impropable win. For India, they need six wickets for a famous win.
Marsh brings up the 100 in style for Australia by flicking Bumrah off his pads to the deep midwicket fence. Australia need him to survive.
Only 20 minutes remain for the day to end. Australia will be hoping to stay unscathed and put up a better fight on day 5 of the Test.
WICKET! Another poor shot by an Australian batsman. Short ball and it climbs up, it cramps Handscomb for room as he miscues the pull shot and it is an easy catch for mid wicket. Handscomb c Pujara b Shami 14.
Marsh and Handscomb are steadying the ship. Australia will need this partnership to thrive if they have stay in the contest. At the moment, it is advantage India.
Total brain-fade from Usman Khawaja. Ashwin floated the delivery up and the left-hander danced down the track to loft it over extra cover, he ends up miscuing it and the ball sails to deep extra cover where Rohit Sharma takes it. Unnecessary shot from Khawaja.
Both Khawaja and Shaun Marsh are looking to steady the innings. This is a massive opportunity for Marsh, in particular, to turn his fortunes around after a woeful 2018.
Shami gets the big wicket of Marcus Harris. The batsman is furious with that stroke. He pushes at a ball that holds it's line outside off and the edge is taken by Pant. Sensational stuff from Shami and India close in
WICKET! At the stroke of tea, Ashwin gets Finch and Australia suffer a crucial blow. He should have reviewed this though as there was no bat or pad. Australia are 28/1, needing another 295 runs for victory.
Marcus Harris gets going with a boundary. The shot was pretty unique though. Back knee bends as he caresses the drive past backward point. A bit of the late Phillip Highes in that shot.
Ishant and Bumrah are bowling tight lines but how much will the no-ball affect the Indian morale? If they have to win this Test match, they cannot afford these mistakes.
DRAMA first up! Ishant Sharma gets the ball to jag back in and it raps Finch on the pads. India appeal and umpire Kumar Dharmasena gives it out. Virat Kohli and India celebrate and Finch reviews. It is a no-ball by Ishant. The front foot was on the line and there is nothing behind it. The decision has been overturned. Finch gets off the pair with a clip to deep midwicket.
Starc finally gets the bouncer right and Ishant departs for 0. India are all out for 307 and the target for Australia is 323. It will be a monumental effort if they can pull it off.
No hat-trick for Nathan Lyon but India's tail have been simply woeful. They should have ensured that they got the lead over 350. Now, this total is somewhat middling but with Australia's batting woes, this total could be more than enough.
WICKET! Nathan Lyon, the GOAT, is on a hat-trick now. Brainless batting from Shami. He slogs this flighted delivery to deep midwicket and Marcus Harris takes the catch now.
WICKET! Lyon gets another five-wicket haul against India. He is simply sensational. Rahane attempts the reverse sweep and is caught at backward point by Mitchell Starc. India are not finishing it according to the plan.
WICKET! Ashwin falls and Starc gets his man. Short ball on middle and leg stump, Ashwin mistimes the pull shot and holes out to deep square leg. Australia are now into the tail.
Ajinkya Rahane is intent on sweeping while Ashwin is solid in defence. If India can maintain the momentum, they can insert Australia in for the final session and go for the kill.
Rishabh Pant has been dismissed by Nathan Lyon. The bowler gets the last laugh and his fourth wicket. However, India's lead is near 300.
What a dynamic start after the lunch break for Rishabh Pant. He blasts Nathan Lyon for three fours and a huge six over deep mid wicket as India zoom towards a 300-run lead.
That will be lunch on day 4 and India are in a great position thanks to fifties from Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara. However, unless Australia do not run through the tail, Australia will be chasing a total in the range of 300-350
WICKET! Rohit Sharma's poor Test ends. He comes down the track to Nathan Lyon but gets a big inside edge onto the pad and silly point takes the catch. Australia are boosting themselves with these couple of wickets but there is still a major task in hand as the lead nears 300.
WICKET! Finally, Australia have a wicket and it is just reward for Nathan Lyon's persistance. He bowls it outside off and gets this delivery to kick up from the deck, Pujara looks to pad it away and the ball takes the glove and short leg takes the catch. Ends a fabulous resistance from Pujara and he has put India on top.
Starc is really struggling to control his radar with the new ball and this is hurting Australia. India's lead inches to 250. This passage of play is taking the game away totally from the hosts.
Rahane and Pujara are slowly grinding Australia to the ground. The hosts are probably waiting for the new ball in order to strike. That represents Australia's only hope as they look to take some quick wickets.
The partnership between Pujara and Rahane is worth 50 runs. This is the partnership which could see India reach safety in Adelaide. The wicket is offering plenty of turn and bounce which could make Ashwin a lethal entity here.
Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara have taken the lead to 200. Rahane has been given OUT caught-behind and the batsman reviews. There is no bat or glove involved and the ball is missing leg stump as well. To add salt to the wounds, Rahane pulls the next ball to the deep midwicket fence.
Pujara steers Nathan Lyon to the third man fence and brings up a brilliant fifty. What a champion. What a time he is having in Adelaide. His knocks could potentially be match-winning.
Brilliant shot from Cheteshwar Pujara. Hazlewood floats a full delivery and in the slot outside off, Pujara presents the full face of the bat and laces an exquisite cover drive to the deep cover fence. Next ball, he gets another boundary to third man as the ball squirts off the outside edge. Hazlewood is not impressed.
A warm welcome to day 4 of the Adelaide Test. Conditions are slightly overcast but situation is much better as compared to yesterday. Play will begin early today to make up for all the time lost due to rain. Mitchell Starc has opened proceedings and Ajinkya Rahane plays the over out without any problem.
