Visiting India wrote a great story about turning around in the Melbourne Test. This time in the Sydney Test against Australia, Rahane's team wrote a story of determination. India lost just three wickets in the fifth day of the Test. In the end, India drew the third of a four-Test series with the help of Ravi Chandan Ashwin and Hanuma Bihari.
After a humiliating loss in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar series, India had a great turn in Melbourne. Australia won the toss and elected to bat in the third Test in Sydney, scoring 338 in the first innings. Opener Will Pukowski scored 62 for the team. Marnus Labushan played a great innings of 91 runs in three overs. Steve Smith, who failed in the first two Tests, scored an eye-catching 131-run innings.
In reply, Ravi Shastri's disciples stopped the first innings with 244 runs. Shubhaman Gill and Pujara went back after fifty. Ajira got a 94-run lead from the first innings. In the second innings, Ajira declared the innings with 312 runs for the loss of 6 wickets with the help of Labushan and Smith. Stith made 81 runs. An innings of 73 runs came out of Labushan's bat. And young all-rounder Carron Green played a dazzling 84-run innings.
India set a target of 407 runs to win. Which is impossible in the fourth innings of the Test. It was as if the name of India was written next to Har. Even then, India was looking forward to good batting in the top order. But at the end of the fourth day, opener Rohit Sharma was out for fifty. India lost two wickets and fell under pressure. At the beginning of the fifth day, captain Ajinkya Rahane returned. The next story is by Cheteshwar Pujara, Rishabh Pant, Hanuma Bihari and Ravishchandan Ashwin.
Pujara played an innings of 77 runs. But he tackled 205 balls. An innings of 97 runs was seen from Pant's bat. He faced 118 balls. After their departure, Hanuma and Ashwin showed the form of real Test batting. Indian middle order batsman Bihari scored 23 runs. But he played 161 balls. Seeing his batting, Ashwin got hope.
Accompanying him, Indian spinner Ashwin faced 128 balls. He scored 39 runs. India made 334 for 5 in the fourth innings. The visitors batted 131 overs in the fourth innings. With five wickets in hand, they returned to the dressing room after a Test draw. At the end of three Tests, the series was tied at 1-1. Now the Border-Gavaskar series will be over with the last Test in Brisbane.
