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| Edited By: DNA Web Team |Source: DNA webdesk |Updated: Sep 29, 2017, 06:53 PM IST
Thank you for following us. We will be back with you in Sydney for the 4th Test. Until then enjoy the new year party.
At the post-match presentation
Steve Smith- "It was a tough five days on a pretty flat wicket. Couple of drop catches in the field cost us dear. India played well, but we have got the series. The wicket did not deteriorate much and they had some strong batting, so we wanted to take it away from them. It was about keeping the series safe, rather than Shaun's hundred. We came close here but it wasn't enough. We are looking forward to make it 3-0 in Sydney. Rhino was outstanding with the bat and with the ball, helped us build up a strong total in the first innings."
MS Dhoni- "Quite happy with the draw. Could have ended in a mess on the last day. The bowlers really bowled well, especially in the second innings. I don't really want to comment on (declaration). If your batsman reaches 90 than you have to wait for him. We have found ways to trouble ourselves. We have got good partnerships in all tests, but we play loose shots. If you are playing well, then you need to carry the momentum forward. It was a bit slow (pitch) in the last hour and you feel the pressure. It was a fantastic display (Rahane-Kohli stand). Especially, because both of them looked to attack the bowling. Secondly, they both made sure they converted it to a big hundred. We need a bit of time. It's new side, not everyone is experienced. Over the last six months, they are getting better. It is a matter of time before we start delivering. We don't have an allrounder, but I am happy the way the bowlers bowled"
Ryan Harris is the Man of the Match for his first innings 74 and his six wickets
The last draw at Melbourne was 17 years back in 1997.
Match drawn! Both the captains Dhoni and Smith shake hands at the end of Day 5 of Third Test in Melbourne and four overs to spare. Many thought India would go for the chase whereas some thought Australia would give themselves more time. However this ended abruptly. This has truly been a batsman's game. Australia scored heavily in the first innings to which India responded well. It did look like the match was headed for an Adelaide-like finish, but then Australia took their time before declaring on the fifth day, to ensure that the Border-Gavaskar trophy was in sight, and almost made it 3-0. Despite the hiccups, India managed to survive a nervous last session. Both sides batted brialliantly. Steven Smith continued piling on runs, so did Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane. Shaun Marsh's handy 99 in the second innings also hurt India's chances in this match
66 overs- 174/6
65 overs- 171/6
62 overs- 161/6
Dhoni- 14 off 27, Ashwin- 5 off 22
59 overs- 153/6
Ashwin- 2 off 9, Dhoni- 9 off 22
55 overs- 142/6. OUT! Rahane tries to pull the short delivery outside off.
AM Rahane c Marsh b Hazlewood 48 off 117b
Dhoni walks in to bat
51 overs- 141/5. And that was a zapper by Mitchell Johnson. What skill, whatta delivery! Pujara was absolutely clueless, he was beaten by the pace.
CA Pujara b Johnson 21 off 70b
This game might be meandering towards a draw but Australia have punched at regular intervals.
47 overs- 133/4
Rahane- 45 off 93, Pujara- 16 off 54
India require another 264 runs from 28 overs with 6 wickets remaining
42 overs- 120/4
The last draw at Melbourne was 17 years back in 1997.
39 overs-113/4. India need 270 runs more to win.
Rahane- 38 off 81, Pujara- 4 off 16
37 overs- 105/4. Maiden over for Ryan Harris
35 overs- 104/4
34.1 overs- And he departs! Virat Kohli goes for the first ball after tea. Harris to Kohli, OUT, he strikes first ball! Kohli is not able to keep his flick down and lobs one into the hands of Joe Burns. Kohli cannot That's a big wicket for Australia. V Kohli c Burns b Harris 54 off 99b
V Kohli c Burns b Harris 54 (135m 99b
TEA BREAK! 34 overs- 104/3
India require another 280 runs with 7 wickets remaining
Kohli- 54 off 98, Rahane-33 off 68. Harris was wonderful with the ball. What a spell.
Half century for Kohli! 50 off 87 balls.
Watching match after a long time...Looks like @imVkohli and @ajinkyarahane88 the next best pair of Indian cricket.. #INDvsAUS way to go
— SRT--My Hero:-) (@shriktweets) December 30, 2014
29.5 overs- 94/3
29 overs- 92/3
Kohli playing some good shots here. He is playing away from his body time-to-time.
Right now time is critical, runs not so much as India need to chase or go for a draw.
28 overs- 88/3. Ryan Harris' ball has too much turn as Rahane is troubled. Three of that over.
26 overs- 78/3. Its all about resolute defence at this stage. Good cricket from India. Harris is bowling well and keeping Kohli under check.
22 overs- 63/3.
Rahane- 16 off 32, Kohli- 32 off 62
India going for a draw as they require 323 from 48.4 overs.
19 overs- 54/3. Kohli and Rahane look settled and hoping to build a partnership like the first innings.
14 overs- 36/3. India need 348 runs more from 56 overs.
Runs begin to come for India as Kohli settles down to play some good shots.
India need 361 runs more from 59 overs.
Kohli- 7 off 17, Rahane- 4 off 11. This match is about survival. Both of them are the two men in form who together got 262 runs.
11 overs- 23/3.
8.1 overs- 19/3. Murali Vijay has to go. M Vijay lbw b Hazlewood 11 off 28b. Hazlewood to Vijay, OUT, it's gone! Vijay is gone. Australia dismantle India's top order. Umpire Dharamsena lifts his finger after giving it some thought
Massive wicket for Australia. Hazlewood is getting the reverse swing.
8 overs- 19/2. A lot of banter and chirping by the Aussie players. Virat Kohli seems to have been affectd and is taking it personally.
There is a boxing match going on at one end and a cricket match at the other. Competitive match here at MCG. Some day the players might just punch each other.
Josh Hazlewood brought into the attack.
6 overs-12/2
India need 372 runs to win from 64 overs
Those Sledges Making d match more Interesting #IndvsAus
— கும்புட்றன் சாமி (@sachin_purusho) December 30, 2014
Wtf is #kohli up to!! Even if he is being bullied by the Aussies, that was suicidal! He is doing exactly what they want him to! #INDvsAUS
— Renuka Vyavahare (@renukaVyavahare) December 30, 2014
4 overs- 8/2. Excellent over! What good cricket
3.2 overs- 8/2. Big sound on that, umpire says not out as there was a clear sound. Murali Vijay suffers scare of Ryan Harris' delivery. Harris thought it was caught out as the bowl flies past behind the stumps.
OUT! 2.2 overs- 5/2. Good bouncer from Johnson. Angling away. Johnson to Rahul, OUT, gone! gone! Another brain freeze for Rahul! This is one match he would want to forget very quickly. The delivery well outside off and Rahul manages a thick top edge. Watson jogs back from first slip and completes a good catch
KL Rahul c Watson b Johnson 1 off 5b
My prediction-collapse with a score below 150.MCG is tough to bat on the last day. Always resulted in 4th innings collapses. #INDvsAUS
— Hemanth V (@hemuhere) December 30, 2014
Should Virat Kohli bat at no.3 and India needs to play the attacking cricket, trying to score over 5 runs per over.
Australia will come hard because they know that India will need 5.5 runs per over.
LUNCH
India have been set 384-run target in 70 overs
Australia declare at 318/9 in 98 overs
Hazlewood- 0 off 3, Lyon- 1 off 10
They are going to play the extra half hour. And finally Australia have declared..it's lunch now
97 overs- 317/9
Hazlewood walks in to bat.
Shaun Marsh gets run out on 99! There is joy, sadness and drama in this game. Marsh's direct hit at the striker's end. He pushes it and Kohli hits the stumps direct. The fielder knew it, Marsh knew it when he dived. He gets a standing ovation, but he has to be a dejected man. A well-played careeer defining innings. He will not be able to get his first century at home.
SE Marsh run out bKohli 99 off 215b
Josh Hazlewood has his pads on. Seems like Australia are going to bat post-lunch.
95 overs- 315/8
Ashwin was expensive and has been taken to cleaners this over. Marsh aggressively tried to get his 100 and in the bargain smashed a six and a boundary. Shaun Marsh all of a sudden has discovered belligerence.
94 overs- 303/8
Nathan Lyon walks in to bat.
OUT! And he's gone...Ryan Harris nicks one of Shami's delivery to Dhoni as he tried to cut it down to the third man. The ball was reversing. Very beautifully bowled by Shami.
RJ Harris c †Dhoni b Mohammed Shami 21 off 68b
The declaration seems to be coming. Nathan Lyon seen taking his pads off and captain Steven Smith involved in discussions with coach Darren Lehmann.
All indian commentators are forcing @stevesmith49 to declare the innings #INDvsAUS
— shumaiz shaham (@shumaizm) December 30, 2014
Australia lead by 362
90 overs- 297/7
Shaun Marsh- 83 off 192, Ryan Harris- 20 off 62.
Aussies might be trying to let Marsh get to his hundred. #INDvsAUS
— Deepak Sharma (@deepakbhlscr) December 30, 2014
Welcome to Day 5 of the 3rd Test between India and Australia at Melbourne. The match will begin at 5:30 am IST.
On Day 4, Mitchell Johnson folded up the Indian tail quite quickly. The Australian batting response then was not totally dominant, yet sufficient to put India on the ropes. With a lead of 326, Australia are in the drivers' seat despite being 7 wickets down for 261. Read the match report from Day 4 to find out exactly how things panned out.
The Indian bowlers did reasonably well on Day 4, at least far better than in the first innings. The perenially 'unlucky' Ishant Sharma took 2/49, R Ashwin 2/56 and Umesh Yadav 2/73. For once, India managed to stop Steve Smith and prevent anyone from scoring a century (though Shaun Marsh is unbeaten on 62).
Speaking of Shaun Marsh, he could be the aggressor early on Tuesday, though the Australian tail has shown terrific spunk this series in the face of docile Indian bowling. There is no doubt Australia will look to score runs quickly, but they will also be wary of declaring too soon, after the experience of the first Test where India decided to change down 363 instead of seeking a draw on the last day.
dnaindia.com has complete coverage of the India-Australia series, from latest news to videos to podcasts, opinions and more. Click here to see the same.
