The 2nd Test between Australia and India is evenly poised after three days of play.
Australia will be pleased to be in a position where they are 4 wickets down in their 2nd innings and lead by 175 runs on a wicket that is still offering plenty for seam and spin bowlers.
India began day 3 trailing by 112 run and with all their hopes hinging on Virat Kohli who was partnered by Hanuma Vihari.
Vihari nicked off within the first few minutes of the opening session by the ever consistent Josh Hazlewood for 20 runs.
The next wicket, which came 18 runs later was of much more significance and by far the most controversial of the series.
Similar to each time they have met in the short career of the Australian quick, Pat Cummins had been all over Virat Kohli for much of the Indian captain’s innings without much luck.
The Indian skipper played a flashing cover drive off Cummins in the 86th over with a newish Kookaburra in hand. It found the outside edge a flew towards gully before it dipped late before crashing into the hands of Peter Handscomb.
To the naked eye it looked a 50/50 call. Handscomb claimed the catch and the umpire referred it to the third umpire and gave his ‘soft’ decision as out.
The Indian captain refused to walk.
Frame by frame television analysis accompanied by zoomed in still shots could not undoubtedly prove that the ball hit the ground or that there was an Australian finger between the ball in the ground, which ultimately meant the umpires on-field decision would be the sticking point.
Kohli had to go.
From here there was little fight from India’s long tail, they only contributed a further 32 runs and India would trail Australia by 44 runs heading into the second innings on a deck that had many gremlins.
Australia began its’ 2nd innings with plenty of fight and courage mainly through their opening combination of Harris and Finch.
Sharma, Burma and Shami all kept the match on a knife’s edge with ferocious opening spells. Umesh Yadav was a little less convincing and it became apparent that the home side were targeting him for much needed boundaries.
During the 14th over Finch was forced to retire hurt so he could be rushed to hospital for x-rays on a broken finger after a vicious bouncer from Shami caught him on the gloves.
This occurred not long after Bumrah rocked his opening partner Harris right on the badge of the helmet after he took his eyes off a short ball.
The Test match was truly alive at this point.
With Finch on his way to hospital wickets began to fall at regular enough intervals for the Indian side and their skipper to feel they were right in the game.
Harris made the mistake of leaving a superb in-swininging delivery from Bumrah that dislodged his off bail.
Shaun Marsh only managed to contribute 5 runs before edging a catch off the bowling of Shami.
Khawaja wasn’t looking overly convincing on the deteriorating pitch but still looked Australia’s best hope of mounting an innings of serious note as Handscomb and Head both were dismissed for scores in the teens.
At the close of play Australian captain Tim Paine had dug in with Khawaja to be 8 off 26 deliveries whilst Khawaja was on 41 off 102 ball.
Australia finished 4-132 with a lead of 175 runs.
