Rahul and Jadeja unite to prevent India from following-on

India scored 252 runs for the loss of 9 wickets, with top scorers being Rahul with 84 runs and Jadeja with 77 runs. Australian bowlers Cummins took 4 wickets for 80 runs and Starc took 3 wickets for 83 runs. India is currently trailing Australia by 193 runs.

India took a massive step towards leaving Brisbane with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy still level, as their last-wicket pair put on a rousing, unbroken 39 to steer their team past the follow-on mark. With only one day's play remaining, Australia's chances of winning this third Test have taken a big hit, particularly as they contend with the absence of Josh Hazlewood, who has been ruled out of this Test match and possibly the rest of the series with a calf strain.

In Hazlewood's absence, his two great fast-bowling buddies took on a massive workload, sending down 60% of the 74.5 overs of India's innings, with Pat Cummins picking up four wickets and Mitchell Starc three.

Their efforts, however, couldn't stop India from getting past the magic figure of 246. KL Rahul survived a dropped chance off the first ball of the day - a portent of Australia's fortunes - and went on to score 84, and Ravindra Jadeja contributed 77 brilliantly controlled runs, taking full toll of facing a depleted attack using an old ball on a predominantly new-ball pitch. When Cummins dismissed Jadeja with a well-directed short ball, however, India were still 33 short of making Australia bat again.

It was then that Akash Deep joined Jasprit Bumrah, in a partnership of extraordinary assurance - Bumrah ended the day with a control percentage of 86 and Akash 90 - that reflected Australia's straitened circumstances. It also reflected the duo's skill and resilience with the bat. Bumrah hooked Cummins for six on his way to 10 off 27 balls, while Akash hit two fours and a six to finish on 27 off 31.

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It was Akash who moved India past the follow-on mark, slashing Cummins over a leaping gully fielder. Two balls later, he cleared his front leg and launched him for a massive six over wide long-on. That was the last scoring shot of the day with the umpires calling the players off the field for bad light after one more ball.

More to follow…