SCG Test: Border-Gavaskar Trophy set for epic finale as Australia and India battle for victory on day three
India lead Australia by 145 runs with four wickets remaining ahead of day three of the SCG Test.
After 15 wickets fell on day two, with the visitors bowling the hosts out four runs shy of their first-innings total, Ravindra Jadeja (8*) and Washington Sundar (4*) will return to the crease at 6-141.
India need to win the fifth Test to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with Australia holding a 2-1 lead in the series.
An injury cloud over star quick Jasprit Bumrah will make that more difficult, with the visitors yet to confirm if the stand-in captain will bat but more importantly bowl after he left the SCG to get scans on a back injury.
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Key Events
We’re back
Prasidh returns. He and Siraj bowled every over before the lunch break.
How may more can they do before we see a change?
In the balance
Australia had the perfect morning wrapping up India’s tail as quickly as possible.
Then Sam Konstas got them off to a filer in the chase but went for one shot too many to open the door for India.
Prasidh Krishna barged in as Australia lost 3/19 including Steve Smith who is stuck on 9,999 Test runs.
Labuschagne and Kosntas fell to poor shots but Smith copped a snorter and the 91 runs will feel along way away for Australia.
LUNCH - AUS 3/71 require 91 runs to win
Travis Head gets a half-volley and his crunching drive just beats mid-on to go for four.
There’s half an LBW shout but it’s pitching outside leg as he and Khawaja survive until stumps.
Australia need 91 runs, India seven wickets and this is still anyone’s game.
Deficit below 100
But Australia still have a mountain to climb on this deck.
Khawaja gets a thick outside edge through gully along the ground to bring the target down to 97 runs with seven wickets in hand.
SMITH GONE
He’s out in the nervous 9,990’s again!
This one rears up off a length to catch the shoulder of the bat and Jaiswal takes a great catch diving forward at gully.
He was one run short of reaching 10,000 but will have to wait until Sri Lanka
LABUSCHAGNE FALLS!
He’s done it a few times this series.
Short outside off and Labuschagne sends a catch straight to Jaiswal at gully.
Almost a carbon copy of his dismissal in Melbourne as he makes a late decision to cut but can’t control it.
50 up for Australia
Labuschagne gets a half-volley on leg-stump which he pings to the boundary.
Khawaja square drives two through point and then drops one into the leg-side to bring up Australia’s 50 inside the 7th over.
Labuschagne is beaten by a beauty to remind everyone there’s still along way to go.
Will Aussies continue to attack?
Konstas didn’t need to play that shot but it’s how he’s done about things so far in his short Test career.
That could be a huge opening for India as Labuschagne comes to the crease.
He defends the first as Australia require 123 more runs to win.
OUT!
Konstas goes down swinging!
He tries to launch Prasidh into the leg-side but it goes straight up off the edge and India end the charge.
Konstas’ cameo ends on 22
Konstas continues to attack
Siraj strays on the pads and Konstas helps it down fine where a midfield gives Australia four more.
Four more! On the pads again and Konstas flicks this one square for four.
CLOSE! Konstas goes at one short outside off and is lucky not to edge behind. AUS 0/35
