Aus v Ind 3rd Test Day 4: Test heads into Day 5; India needs 309 runs, Australia eight wickets

India have their backs to the wall as they head into the final day of the third Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

India finished fourth day at 98 for two needing a further 309 runs to possibly win and take a 2-1 lead in the four-match series. Australia had earlier declared their second innings at 312 for six leaving India with a mammoth task of chasing down 407 to win the third Test.

Australia resumed at 103 for two on Sunday, but were lucky to survive thanks to a number of dropped catches.

Australia had progressed well thanks to a 103-run stand between Marnus Labuschange (73: 118b, 9x4) and Steve Smith (81: 167b, 8x4, 1x6). Thereafter, Smith shared a 60 run fifth wicket stand with Cameron Green. Australia skipper Tim Paine (39 n.o.) then joined forces with Green (84: 132b, 8x4, 4x6) to help his side pedal along nicely.

Australia finally declared at 312 for six at tea time.

For India the chief wicket-takers were Navdeep Saini (2-54) and Ravichandran Ashwin (2-95).

India began the chase confidently, with openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill adding 71 runs. Gill was the first to fall for 31 off 64 balls. Then, Rohit could not resist the temptation of playing the short ball and holed out at fie leg for 52 off 98 balls with five boundaries and a six.

The wickets were picked up by Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.

Match Summary - Australia v India, 4th Day, 3rd Test, Sydney Cricket Ground, Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Australia 1st Innings: 338

India 1st Innings: 244

Australia 2nd Innings: 312-6 declared (87)
Fall of wickets: 3-138 (Marnus Labuschagne, 46.1 ov), 4-148 (Matthew Wade, 48.6 ov), 5-208 (Steven Smith, 67.4 ov), 6-312 (Cameron Green, 86.6 ov)

India 2nd Innings: 98-2 (34)
Fall of wickets: 1-71 (Shubman Gill-22.1 ov), 2-92 (Rohit Sharma-30.2 ov)

Close of Play - Stumps - Day 4 - India need 309 more runs to win

Scorecard

Match Details

Start Time: 23:30

Toss: Australia won the toss and decided to bat

Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

Officials: Paul Reiffel, Paul Wilson, Bruce Oxenford, Claire Polosak, David Boon

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