27 March,2017 05:00 PM IST | | mid-day online correspondent
India ended Day 3 at 19 for no loss as Indian bowlers led by Ravindra Jadeja put on an all-round performance to dismiss Australia for a total of 137 runs of the fourth Test at Dharamsala; India require 87 runs to clinch the series
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Ravindra Jadeja and teammates celebrate a wicket. Pic/ AFP
India scored 19/0 and needed another 87 runs to win the final Test and the four-match series against Australia at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium here on Monday, the third day of the ongoing encounter.
Openers Murali Vijay (6) and Lokesh Rahul (13) were at the crease when the day's play was called off.
Earlier, India bundled out Australia for 137 runs in their second innings to set a 106-run target for clinching the final cricket Test match.
The Indian bowlers rampaged through the Australian batting lineup with pacer Umesh Yadav and the spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja scalpng three wickets each while medium-pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar took one wicket.
Glenn Maxwell was the highest scorer for Australia with his 45 runs.
Earlier, Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja showcases great batting as he scored his seventh Test fifty as hosts post a total of 332 against Australia on Day 3 of the fourth test at Dharamsala.
Jadeja scored 63 runs in just 95 balls and hit 4 sixes and 4 fours. Australian spinner Nathan Lyon picked up 5 wickets for 92 runs.
The seventh wicket partnership of 96 runs in 30 overs with Wriddhiman Saha (31) could well prove to be the turning point on this Dharamsala track, where three Indian spinners will be in operation in the third innings of the match.
For Australia, Nathan Lyon (5/98) had a five-wicket haul. Saha, on his part again showed steely temperament despite another testing morning spell by Patrick Cummins (3/94) and Josh Hazlewood (1/51).
Jadeja was adjudged caught behind off the very first ball of the third morning bowled by Cummins but he promptly used DRS to get a favourable decision after the TV replays confirmed that there was no edge.
He also got stuck by a snorter from Cummins that hit him on the helmet but the feisty cricketer didn't show any discomfort. His best shot off the morning was a picture perfect straight drive off Cummins that raced through grass blades.
The moment, Lyon flighted one, he jumped out to loft him effortlessly over long-off for his third six. He also had a streaky boundary off Lyon past the slip cordon. While Saha dabbed around for singles and occasional doubles, Jadeja took risks at will.
A quick single brought up his 50 and there was customary sword wielding celebration from the man. In fact, Jadeja joined Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Murali Vijay among others, who have surpassed 50 six times in the current season. He also became the second Indian cricketer after Kapil Dev to achieve the double of 500 runs and 50 wickets in the season.
He was not afraid of the short pitched stuff bowled by Cummins as he pulled him to deep mid-wicket for a boundary and then for good measure hooked him behind square for his fourth six.
Cummins had the last laugh when he played on trying to smash a fullish delivery. Bhuvneshwar Kumar's (0) nightmare of a Test match continued as Steve O'Keefe got his first victim of the match.
(With Agency Inputs)
