ZCZC
BSP-07
CRICKET-AUS-IND-LEAD
Struggling Australia throw away wickets in big run chase
SYDNEY, Jan 5, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Australia blew a strong start with another
top order batting collapse in Sydney Saturday, leaving themselves a mountain
to climb to reel in India’s huge first innings total.
At tea on day three of the final Test, they were 198 for five with Peter
Handscomb (21) and Tim Paine (five) working to rebuild after four wickets
fell in the afternoon session.
Australia went to lunch at 122 for one but surrendered soon afterwards,
losing three quick wickets for 24 runs with spinner Ravindra Jadeja and
paceman Mohammed Shami doing the damage.
While aggressive rookie opener Marcus Harris blazed a career-best 79,
senior players Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh failed to deliver when needed
most, both guilty of soft dismissals.
India took a stranglehold on the match over the opening two days, compiling
a massive 622 for seven declared on the back of centuries from irrepressible
Cheteshwar Pujara and livewire Rishabh Pant.
They lead 2-1 after victories in Adelaide and Melbourne and are fast
closing in on a historic first-ever series win since they first toured
Australia in 1947-48.
Skipper Virat Kohli’s declaration left Khawaja and Harris to face 10
nervous overs before stumps on Friday, when they crawled to 24 without loss.
Khawaja was dropped by Pant behind the stumps on nought but failed to make
the most of his second life.
On a day when the Sydney Cricket Ground was a sea of pink to mark a breast
cancer awareness initiative, he was dismissed for 27 after mistiming a shot
off wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav with Pujara taking an easy catch.
– Stuck in two figures –
At the other end the diminutive Harris, who has shown flashes of brilliance
in his short four-Test career, quickly found a groove with some crisp shots
around the ground.
He survived a close call on 24 when a drive to a diving KL Rahul fell just
at his fingertips and reached his second Test 50 with a single before
smacking three fours in one Yadav over.
Harris went to lunch on 77 but added just two more before chopping a Jadeja
delivery onto his stumps, blowing a glorious chance to press on and make
Australia’s first century of the series.
So far, none of Australia’s batsmen has reached three figures over the four
Tests, with Harris’ 79 the highest anyone has scored. In contrast, India have
had a field day, compiling five centuries.
Australia gambled by picking inexperienced allrounder Marnus Labuschagne to
come in at number three and he settled in well, cracking seven boundaries in
a stylish 38.
But he was sent packing by a blinding reflex catch from Ajinkya Rahane at
mid-wicket off Shami’s bowling.
Marsh scored a century in Sydney against England this time last year, but
couldn’t match the feat this outing, tickling an edge to Rahane at slip from
a turning ball off Jadeja.
And the day got worse when Travis Head was caught and bowled by Yadav just
before tea for 20.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1052 hrs