Australia v India: third Test, day four – live!

This has been another belter for Australia, who are in charge entering the fifth and final day at the SCG. That first-innings lead helped immeasurably and Labuschagne and Smith made their half centuries this morning and Cummins in sparkling form this afternoon. Hazlewood was a whisker behind him and Lyon has given Pujara much to think about. Rohit, after a commendable 50, was left to rue another thrown-away potential ton.

The hosts need eight, likely only seven, wickets to win. But that does not mean they are a sure thing if Rahane and Pujara can rack up a score between them.

Of course, all of this was spoiled by an off-field incident, when play was stopped for eight minutes to deal with another allegation of abuse from Indian quick Siraj. We will likely here more on that tomorrow. Until then, thanks and goodnight.

34th over: India 98-2 (Pujara 9, Rahane 4)

Lyon bowls the final over of the day and Rahane leaves the first that spins in from length. This is how it starts and finishes, Rahane puts up the barricades and that is stumps.

33rd over: India 98-2 (Pujara 9, Rahane 4)

As it stands, India will have to bat out of their skins on Monday to redeem this. Cummins is bowling to Rahane. A no ball is followed by good length and a shorter one that Rahane steers through the gap between the slips and gully.

32nd over: India 94-2 (Pujara 9, Rahane 1)

Pujara is labouring against Lyon, blocking and defending tentatively as Lyon lands his best wide of off and spinning in with venom. Unsuccessful appeal for lbw.

I may have jinxed that because the very next ball is Rohit’s last. Again he fails to convert another strong start. Facing Cummins, it is one of his favourite shots that seals his demise as he goes for a pull shot a little too energetically but cannot keep it down. Starc takes the catch on his knees.

Rahane, clearly opting against a nightwatchman. strolls to the crease and opens his account with a single before Pujara is ALMOST caught. A Cummins corker has Pujara on the back foot and he pops it up but somehow gets away with it.

30th over: India 92-1 (Rohit 52, Pujara 8)

Rohit’s weight is forward and he is working Lyon’s spin with nothing to show from the first three deliveries but the fourth is an easy-as-you-like flick over midwicket for a four. Only five from this over but this could yet be a big knock.

29th over: India 87-1 (Rohit 47, Pujara 8)

Cummins is back. Can the top-ranked Test bowler take a scalp to end day four? It would be a circuit-breaker. There’s a little swing as he forces Rohit to defend and settle for a lone single off his last.

28th over: India 86-1 (Rohit 46, Pujara 8)

We are not too far away from stumps now as Pujara, who comes up with nothing in the first four balls against Lyon, takes a quick triple through mid-wicket.

27th over: India 82-1 (Rohit 45, Pujara 5)

Rohit is going great guns and will have 50 before the end of today’s play. A small hiccup here when he goes a little too early on a pull shot that is, luckily for him, too close for alls short of the forward-running Labuschagne at midwicket.

26th over: India 80-1 (Rohit 43, Pujara 5)

Pujara gets off the mark with a boundary and there is a sense India should not be afraid of this pitch, even if they are off their opponents’ attack. He drives Lyon through extra cover and pops the next up for a single before Rohit adds another.

25th over: India 71-1 (Rohit 39, Pujara 0)

Another maiden as Pujara proceeds with caution, turning Hazlewood defensively on the leg- side, one towards mid-on, letting another go. That is the third straight maiden and second on the trot for Hazlewood.

24th over: India 71-1 (Rohit 39, Pujara 0)

Lyon bowls a maiden to a defensive Rohit.

And there it is. It is a breakthrough the hosts had been after. Hazlewood is in the attack and nicks Gill off his first ball on its way through to Paine. There is a review but Hotspot confirms without doubt.

Pujara emerges and heads to the crease as Hazlewood goes about his business in an excellent over that saw Pujara given out lbw and overturned on review due to being high.

22nd over: India 71-0 (Rohit 39, Gill 31)

This, I am reading, is India’s first 50-plus fourth-innings opening partnership away from home since Wasim Jaffer and Virender Sehwag put together 109 against West Indies in Basseterre in 2006.

Having said that, Australia’s bowling attack will not be governed forever. A wicket is surely in the off and …

21th over: India 70-0 (Rohit 39, Gill 30)

Green is up again and so is Rohit, who keeps pulling brilliant shots and takes another six with aggression and ease.

20th over: India 64-0 (Rohit 33, Gill 30)

Rohit provides the shot of the innings thus far, an exquisite cover drive off a Starc half-volley. Rohit adds a boundary and another three for an 11-run over.

19th over: India 53-0 (Rohit 22, Gill 30)

Green takes up the ball. Will we witness greatness? He serves up a harmless short one and Gill calmly takes two, has no luck for the ensuing four balls and then bangs one for four as Australia veinly gives chase. That’s a 50 from that opening partnership.

18th over: India 47-0 (Rohit 22, Gill 24)

India’s top order are keeping their composure, Rohit defending forward and Gill stealing a single after finding himself lucky to get the slightest of an inside edge of his pad on an otherwise plumb delivery.

17th over: India 46-0 (Rohit 22, Gill 23)

Right on cue, Rohit bumps Cummins superbly through covers for four BUT not before he finds himself the subject of a near run-out. There is not much bounce on this Cummins delivery and gets hit on the pads as instead of hitting it with hit bat. As the ball skews to second slip. He briefly leaves his crease and an appeal goes upstairs but he sneaks back in in the nick of time.

16th over: India 42-0 (Rohit 18, Gill 23)

India are quite literally taking it ball by ball. If they can make it to the end of today’s play without losing a wicket there could yet be hope for the tourists. The backs-against-the-wall approach has worked before. Australia wouldn’t feeling even a hint pressure as yet, but this is a psychological game is cricket.

15th over: India 40-0 (Rohit 17, Gill 22)

Rohit was using his fancy feet against Lyon last over but he can do no such thing against Cummins, who bowls a maiden.

14th over: India 40-0 (Rohit 18, Gill 22)

Here is our latest on the alleged incident of abuse from Christopher Knaus:

13th over: India 39-0 (Rohit 17, Gill 22)

Cummins is making his inquiries at off stump and is bouncing his way down to Gill, who is biding his time. And hey, it pays off as Gill channels one to the fine-leg boundary for a four.

Another cheeky four follows as Gill plays Cummins late, past first and only slip and to the fence. Some second prior to that Australia had two slips in place, probably could have had three.

12th over: India 31-0 (Rohit 17, Gill 14)

Gill takes one run off Lyon’s opening over, hanging back in his crease and then flicking it through square leg.

11th over: India 29-0 (Rohit 16, Gill 13)

India are in an unenviable position here. It seems so much of their tactical approach is built around a big top-order score in their first innings. Rahane took care of that in Melbourne through his century but in Sydney they have only had those half centuries from Gill and Pujara, which nowhere near offset Australia’s Smith-led first innings. Kohli, wherefore art though, Kohli? So here they are, hanging on, clinging to that hope of a draw.

Rohit takes a paltry single from a Cummins over as Lyon steps up.

8th over: India 25-0 (Rohit 14, Gill 11)

Drama! Rohit is given out lbw butball tracking has it sailing well high. He is adjudged not out and tries it on again with a pull shot for a single.

There is another unsuccessful appeal as Australia take a review against Gill for caught behind, with Hazlewood appearing convinced he had found the inside edge to Paine. It is not to be. Hotspot and Snicko show nothing and there is some action between the ball and his pad flaps.

7th over: India 23-0 (Rohit 13, Gill 10)

The seas have parted and the all-powerful Pat Cummins is injected into the attack and he forces Gill to remain back in his crease. He keeps the Indian runless for four balls only to be hit for four in the fifth off Gill’s back foot.

6th over: India 19-0 (Rohit 13, Gill 6)

Hazlewood bowls a near-maiden as Gill makes a single run. A reminder that we won’t be seeing either Pant ot Jadeja this innings after the pair sustained an elbvow injury and dislocated left thumb respectively. Yesterday truly was a horrid day for the tourists.

5th over: India 18-0 (Rohit 13, Gill 5)

Rohit is opening his face of the bat and steers Starc off for four. The Australian quick tries his luck with a short delivery but it is wide. Green, meanwhile, is giving chase, versatile character that he is. Gill pulls it through square leg for a single to end the over.

3rd over: India 6-0 (Rohit 5, Gill 1)

Starc’s first over did not set the world on fire and he is lacking a little on the swing as Rohit drills it straight back, eliciting a little playful gesticulation from his Australia counterpart. The batsman takes the leading edge through short third man for a couple of runs. Hazlewood takes up the ball for the fourth over.

1st over: India 4-0 (Rohit 3, Gill 1)

Here we go.

Starc is up first with the new ball, no doubt with that variable bounce mind, and Rohit is straight off the mark. The ball hits the toe of his bat but he commits to the shot for a couple of runs to start the innings.

You said it, GL.

Here is the full statement just in from Cricket Australia:

Cricket Australia has reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy towards discriminatory behaviour in all forms following the alleged racial abuse of members of the Indian cricket squad by a section of the crowd at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday.

Sean Carroll, Cricket Australia’s Head of Integrity and Security, said anyone who sought to vilify and/or harass had no place in Australian cricket.

“Cricket Australia condemns in the strongest terms possible all discriminatory behaviour,” Carroll said. “If you engage in racist abuse, you are not welcome in Australian cricket.

“CA is awaiting the outcome of the International Cricket Council’s investigation into the matter reported at the SCG on Saturday. Once those responsible are identified, CA will take the strongest measures possible under our Anti-Harassment Code, including lengthy bans, further sanctions and referral to NSW Police.

“As series hosts, we unreservedly apologise to our friends in the Indian cricket team and assure them we will prosecute the matter to its fullest extent.”

Kerrie Mather, Venues NSW’s Chief Executive, said CCTV footage was being reviewed to assist the ICC investigation.

“At the SCG, we pride ourselves on welcoming anyone and everyone in a safe and inclusive environment,” Mather said.

“We are taking this extremely seriously. If those involved are identified, they will be banned from the SCG and all Venues NSW properties under our Act.”

Just in time for tea, Green has met his match and Bumrah finally has a wicket after some serious toil. The former clears his front leg and swings across the line, only a touch of an inside edge but Saha appealed immediately. He was the only one, and Green challenges, but Snicko shows the smallest of spikes and that will finish this tale of enchantment.

It followed yet another Green six and a four to complete a fine innings. He flicked that switch to turn it on for Australia and dazzled he did, needing only 16 runs for a maiden century. Due to that unfortunate off-field incident he simply ran out of time.

Here is one of his four sixes, for your leisure …

The police officers appear to be speaking with some fans sitting in the area from which Siraj heard the complaint. Shortly afterwards, a small group of men are escorted from the ground.

In case you missed it, this is the second complaint of racism in as many days after Siraj and Bumrah reported racial taunts on Saturday. Let’s hope this is the last of this. It has certainly dampened the vibe in the middle.

86th over: Australia 301-5 (Green 74, Paine 38)

Play has stopped now amid what appears to be another allegation of racial abuse from a part of the SCG crowd. Bumrah was just about to bowl when Siraj approaches the umpire while gesturing towards the stand. The umpires are at the boundary and speaking with security officials, and police officers have turned up.

86th over: Australia 301-5 (Green 74, Paine 38)

Green is playing T20 now and wallops back-to-back sixes. The first is the real cracker, a sweet-spot shot over long on and into the sparsely populated stands. The second, if we are nit-picking, is not quite as impressive and Siraj again delivers good length, but even a slight mishit has cleared the fence. Can the young man make it 100 before tea?

85th over: Australia 284-5 (Green 59, Paine 36)

Courtesy of some of these big hits, Australia now lead by 378. Tall task for the Indians, this will be. No team has ever chased down 300 or more at the SCG, so surviving rather than thriving should be the order of the final day and a bit. This over is good for two singles – one apiece.

84th over: Australia 282-5 (Green 58, Paine 35)

Green is about to better that though, launching an almighty one for six. It was clean and it was brutal, and Siraj has the look of a man who did not know that was coming. The 21-year-old is playing without fear.

83rd over: Australia 274-5 (Green 51, Paine 34)

There appears to be a new ball in Bumrah’s hand now and the movement off the seam is apparent. Green can’t get one away but then he does and it’s flicked just wide of gully and rolls away for a four. That will be the first of many for the Western Australian and some fine reward for a diligent shift so far.

82nd over: Australia 270-5 (Green 45, Paine 33)

Curiously, India have not yet taken the new ball despite bringing on fast bowlers from both ends. And. abit of gamesmanship with one ball left in the over as the groundsman runs out to take his mallet the ground again. He departs, and a deep Siraj delivery bounces off Green’s thigh pad to fine leg.