India are on the brink of a resounding win against Australia after reducing the hosts to 258/8 by stumps on Day 4 in Melbourne.
After setting Australia a target of 399, India’s bowlers struck regularly to raise hopes of sealing a win, and a 2-1 series lead, by the end of the day.
But lower-order resistance from Pat Cummins stalled India’s victory push, with the fast bowler ending the day unbeaten on 61.
He was ably supported by captain Tim Paine and then off-spinner Nathan Lyon, the other not-out batsman at the end of the day.
However, it was another grim day for Australia’s regular batsmen, with Shaun Marsh’s 44 the best score among the hosts’ top six.
Marsh, Usman Khawaja and Travis Head all got starts before failing to push on, while openers Marcus Harris and Aaron Finch failed again.
Stumps on Day 4 of the 3rd Test.
— BCCI (@BCCI) 29 December 2018
Australia 258/8, #TeamIndia 2 wickets away from victory #ASUvIND pic.twitter.com/if6aBFoIT0
India’s bowlers put up another admirable display, though not as economical as their first-innings showing.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja led the way, bowling a whopping 32 overs for figures of 3/82, getting Harris early in the innings before returning to take the wickets of Mitchell Marsh and Paine.
Jasprit Bumrah, the hero of India’s bowling in the first innings, pitched in with the wickets of Finch and the older Marsh brother, while Mohammed Shami produced two outstanding deliveries to first pin Khawaja in front for an LBW and then knock over Mitchell Starc’s stumps.
Ishant Sharma took the other wicket to fall, that of Head, bowled off an inside edge.
The rain that was supposed to arrive on Saturday came only during the lunch break, having little effect on play apart from creating overcast conditions that made it a day for bowling.
Sunday”s forecast also includes predictions of rain, so India will want to wrap up the match as soon as possible.
Earlier, Cummins picked up 6/27 as India, resuming their third innings on an overnight score of 54/5, stretched their score to 106/8 before declaring.
