Ind-Aus Test: Rahul, Jadeja drive India to avoid follow-on on 4th day
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Times of India photo.
Brisbane: Determined KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja drove India with hard-earned fifties to avoid the follow-on on the fourth day of the Third Test against dominating Australia. The weather hit match kind of heading towards a draw, PTI reported.
Jadeja (77, 123b, 7x4, 1x6) and Rahul (84, 139, 8x4) were the heavy-lifters in India's 252 for nine when bad light forced a early close to the day.
Jasprit Bumrah (10) and Akash Deep (27), who showed appreciable gumption, are holding the fort for India.
The visitors trail Aussies by 193 runs. But they wouldn't mind that one bit as Australia will now have to bat again, forcing a result in three sessions that looks like an improbable target, considering the Brisbane weather pattern.
The city is bracing up for rain and a thunderstorm or two on Wednesday.
A quick word of appreciation is also required for No. 10 Bumrah and No. 11 Akash Deep for knocking down the 33 runs required to go past the follow-on mark of 246.
Rahul displayed admirable technical nous to withstand the stern test posed by the Australian bowlers to take the game deep into the day.
Nine toes down, Rahul and an equally feisty Jadeja added 67 runs for the sixth wicket, and it was the first sign of India's fight.
The much-awaited moment of n--follow-on came when Akash crunched Pat Cummins over the gully for a boundary.
When these two joined forces, India was reeling at 213 for 9 after Jadeja was dismissed off a Cummins' snorter.
Aussies dearly missed the metronomical Josh Hazlewood, who was ruled out of the series with a calf injury.