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India vs Australia 2014-15, 2nd Test at Brisbane, Day 3: India reach 71/1 at stumps

Catch the live updates of the third day's play in second Test between India and Australia at Brisbane.

Steven Smith became the youngest Australian to score century on captaincy debut © Getty Images
Steven Smith became the youngest Australian to score century on captaincy debut © Getty Images

Dec 19, 2014

Catch the Live Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary of the second Test between India and Australia

(Can a spirited India level the series under MS Dhoni, or will Steven Smith win the first Test of his career as captain to make it 2-0 for Australia in the series? Catch live cricket scores of the match here)

Goodmorning and welcome to CricketCountry’s live blog of the third day’s play between India and Australia at The Gabba in Brisbane on Friday. This is Devarchit Varma, and I will be bringing you the live updates from the third day’s play. HIGHLIGHTS: DAY 2

Australia finished the second day at 221 for four, still 187 runs behind India’s first innings total of 408. Steven Smith was unbeaten on 65 along with Mitchell Marsh at the crease, as Australia will now look to bring down India’s lead. Australia’s new captain Smith will be the key for the hosts as they don’t have much batting left in their ranks. READ: Steven Smith holds key for Australia on Day Three

For India, Umesh Yadav picked three out of the four wickets that fell on Day Two as India produced a strong performance with the ball. However, the tourists let go of the advantage which they had earned on the opening day. Josh Hazlewood picked five-for on Test debut as Australia limited India to 408 after the tourists resumed the innings at 311 for four. READ: Josh Hazlewood’s accuracy vs India augurs well for Australia

Hazlewood bagged five for 68, whereas Brad Haddin too created a record. He grabbed six catches in the Indian innings and thus equalled the record for most dismissals by an Australian wicketkeeper in the innings. However, it was Smith and Umesh who stood out for their respective sides as the teams continued to fight hard for success. Few top-order Australian batsmen, including Shane Watson, failed after getting the starts as India now sense an opening. READ: Australia may want to reconsider Watson at No. 3. Cricket Australia has informed that Mitchell Marsh is struggling a bit in the nets ahead of the start of the play.

So, the day ends for India and it was certainly a forgettable one. They started off on a positive note, but failed to maintain the pressure and ended up on leather-hunt for most of the day. Read Shiamak Unwalla’s day report here.

India are still behind by 26 runs as the play has ended at The Gabba. Australia will be pleased with their effort with the bat, bringing down India’s advantage and taking out Murali Vijay threat from India’s second innings. A fine job by Dhawan and Pujara to stay on till the end.

 

 

 

Cheteshwar Pujara and Shikhar Dhawan are batting with lot of ease at the moment, dealing with singles majorly. India are still behind by 28 runs. Mitchell Johnson’s pace has been decent today, but India have not given him any chance.

 

India are steady after the early wicket of Murali Vijay. They would be pleased with the way Shikhar Dhawan has batted so far today, as India won’t like another wicket at the fag end of an extremely tough day. India trail by another 40 runs.

 

After safely negotiating the first 10 overs, Mitchell Starc has deliveried as Australia get rid of Murali Vijay. The batsman looked to leave but the ball hit the back of the bat and crashed into the wickets. Huge blow!
OUT! M Vijay b Starc 27 (39)

 

Murali Vijay is looking extremely confident in the middle, leaving the balls at will and scoring with a lot of ease as well. Shikhdar Dhawan has done well too! India trail by 58 more runs.

 

So far so good for the Indians. Vijay copped one short delivery at 144 kmph off Johnson on his shoulder, and responded with a fine boundary. India need a steady start. India trail by 84 runs in their second innings.

 

Mitchell Johnson starts off in India’s second innings and it is a maiden. Murali Vijay successfully negotiates the first six balls.

 

Finally, R Ashwin cleans up Mitchell Starc in the over right after the tea break, and throws his hands up in the air with lot of anger. Australia bowled out for 505 with a lead of 97 runs.
OUT! M Starc b Ashwin 52 (59)

 

A session that must remain etched in the memories of Indian bowlers for long, as Australia have pushed India to the limits. The lead is of 95 runs now. Here’s Shiamak Unwalla’s tea report.

Frustration is a lesser word to describe India and their fans’ feelings right now. More than 240 runs have been scored since the dismissal of Brad Haddin, and Australia have put themselves in a commanding position now. Since India were not able to make a breakthrough, umpires have decided to take tea. Australia’s lead is of 95 runs now.

 

Mitchell Starc completes his fourth half-century in Test cricket as Australia now eye a strong lead, perhaps in three figures. Hazlewood is batting well too! Australia lead by 77 runs now.

 

Mitchell Starc mistimed a pull that fell between Ishant Sharma and Varun Aaron, which showed the poor state India are in right now. Australia are building up on the lead right now, which is of 60 runs.

 

Australia’s lead in the first innings is of 46 runs now as Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon added 56 runs for the ninth wicket before the latter’s dismissal. Varun Aaron claims the wicket.
OUT! Lyon c Rohit b Aaron 23 (23)

 

 

 

It’s the other Mitchell who is scoring runs at ease now, as Starc has taken Australia’s lead to 19 runs now. Nathan Lyon is providing strong support now, and Indian pacers are trying hard to make the breakthrough without results. Umesh and Aaron are bowling in tandem right now.

 

Mitchell Starc has come in the mood that Mitchell Johnson was, and has taken Australia past the Indian total of 408. He has struck two fours so far. It will be interesting to see how much Australia add as lead in their first essay. `

 

AT LAST! India finally dismiss Steven Smith as the Australian captain is cleaned up by Ishant Sharma. Smith departs after scoring 133 off 191 balls, studded with 13 fours and two sixes. What an effort! The fall of Smith means Australia may not take a strong lead as they were expected to earlier.
OUT! S Smith b Ishant 133 (191)

 

Finally! After relentless sledging, chit-chatting and good bowling, Ishant Sharma gets a wicket and Mitchell Johnson falls after a rapid 93-ball 88. Australia need 13 more runs to take lead against India. Johnson added 148 runs for the seventh wicket with Steven Smith, and whacked 13 fours and a massive six to bring his side right on top against India.
OUT! M Johnson c Dhoni b Ishant 88 (93)

 

 

 

The new ball isn’t making much of a difference for India as Steven Smith is batting as comfortably as ever and Mitchell Johnson has moved into the 80s.

 

India have taken the second new ball

R Ashwin starts an extremely important session as Mitchell Johnson plays out a maiden over.

 

Third youngest to lead Australia in Test cricket and now the youngest to score a century on captaincy debut, what a year Steven Smith is having!

Just when it started to look like India are set to earn a big lead, Mitchell Johnson turned up and his brutal unbeaten knock as left India clueless. Australia are only 57 runs behind now, and they would look to get past India and take lead. Here’s Shiamak Unwalla’s lunch report.

Australia have scored at more than seven runs an over in the last 10 and India have seemingly lost all advantage that they had gained. Mtichell Johnson has not only been smart but brutal as well, and Smith has been calm as ever from the other end. They raise their 100-run stand in just 13 overs, or mere 78 balls. Test cricket!

 

There it is! Yet another century for Steven Smith as Australia’s new captain celebrates his debut with a fine knock at The Gabba. India completely on the backfoot now as Smith and company continue to make progress. India’s lead is of only 68 runs now.

 

Wonder whether all the talk by Rohit Sharma has fired up Mitchell Johnson, as he has raced to a fine unbeaten half-century off just 37 balls. Johnson has struck eight boundaries to get to the feat, and has done most of the scoring in the unbeaten seventh-wicket stand. He has played strokes that Johnson’s known for, and this score might get him going and get into the rhythm that has been missing so far.

 

Meanwhile, lot of talk going on about Rohit Sharma sledging Mitchell Johnson when the left-handed batsman had walked in. Australia would only hope that this fires up the man.

 

Australia go past the 300-run mark as Mitchell Johnson and Steven Smith have raised their half-century stand for the seventh wicket. Australia trail by 62 runs now as Johnson’s aggressive attitude has brought them right back into the contest. Johnson smashes two consecutive fours off Umesh.

 

Mitchell Johnson has played a couple of aggressive strokes and has raced to 19 not out off 17 balls. India would be a little worried to not let Johnson score quick runs and bring down the run deficit and turn the tables on them.

 

Varun Aaron has been warned for bowling three short deliveries in the 62nd over.

And here is how Brad Haddin fell:

 

 

India have really come ouot very strong today. Brad Haddin’s poor run continues as the right-hander is caught at the forward short leg by Cheteshwar Pujara — India’s ploy has worked for them. Aaron banged in short and Haddin failed to keep it down. Simple catch to Pujara. Mitchell Johnson comes in.
OUT! B Haddin c Pujara b Aaron 6 (12)

 

Brad Haddin has joined his skipper at the crease and is facing lot of trouble. Ishant Sharma rapped him on pads twice in one over, and Varun Aaron is attacking him with short balls around the wicket, with a leg gully and forward short leg in place.

 

 

This is how Mitchell Marsh was dismissed:

 

 

There it is! India have struck early on Day Three and it is Ishant Sharma who has provided them the breakthrough. Marsh shoulders arms and the ball moves in a bit and hits the top of the off-stump. India gain momentum early in the day! Australia trail by another 176 runs as Brad Haddin walks in.
OUT! M Marsh b Ishant 11 (34)

 

Ishant Sharma starts the day for India and bowls a quick first over. India would be looking for early wickets to put more pressure on the Australians. Three runs added in the first over of the day.

 

Catch the Live Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary of the second Test between India and Australia

In photos: India vs Australia, 2nd Test at Brisbane

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