Vihari, Ashwin blockathon helps India force a draw

Brief Scores: Australia 338 & 312/6 dec (Marnus Labuschagne 73, Steve Smith 81, Cameron Green 84; Navdeep Saini 2-54, R Ashwin 2-95) drawn to India 244 & 334/5 (Rishabh Pant 97, Cheteshwar Pujara 77, Rohit Sharma 52, R Ashwin 39*, Hanuma Vihari 23*; Josh Hazlewood 39-2, Nathan Lyon 114-2, Pat Cummins 1-72) 

Despite being scuppered by injuries and racial abuse, India fought tooth and nail to salvage a draw in the third Test at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground. In what was a lesson in pushing oneself to the limits in the face of adversity, the rock-solid Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin entwined to keep 258 balls at bay in a dogged 62-run association after Rishabh Pant (97) and Cheteshwar Pujara (77) married their contrasting methods to give India a genuine shot at victory earlier in the day. The herculean effort was the longest India have batted in the fourth innings of a Test outside of Asia since 1979. The 'no result' means the Border-Gavaskar series remains levelled at 1-1 heading into the fourth and final Test at Gabba. 

"It is important that we play a good first session tomorrow," Ravichandran Ashwin, the man of the moment, said in the presser yesterday. "A very ideal and a good first session will be to not lose a wicket.'' That wasn't to be the case, however, as Nathan Lyon struck as early as in the second over of the day to eke out a nudge from Ajinkya Rahane to forward short leg. Although Ashwin's wish of an ''ideal first session'' was fulfilled by Rishabh Pant and Cheteshwar Pujara, who forged a 104-run alliance in the first session to keep India well and truly in the hunt, with the southpaw who was promoted ahead of Hanuma Vihari playing the wrecker-in-chief. He had his fair share of luck as Tim Paine put down a couple of deflections off Lyon, on 3 and 56, but made the most of his fortune and mashed Australia to pulp with a counter-attack for the ages. 

While Pant was uncharacteristically sedate to begin with, Pujara didn't sink into his shell even if India's initial quest of a draw asked him to do so. He milked Pat Cummins handsomely down the ground while pouncing upon Lyon with the trademark shimmie-and-flick. Meanwhile, Pant, having lumbered to 5 off 33 deliveries, smoked 45 in his next 30 as the onslaught from thin air caught Australia off guard. He took a particular liking towards Lyon, stepping out to butcher him for a couple of maximums and backing his brute force to clear the ropes even against a spread out field, his discomfort from the blow copped on the elbow barely making its presence felt in the blinder of a knock. 

Pant's one-dimensional hostility complemented Pujara's renewed sense of purpose as the pair brought up the 100-run stand for the fourth wicket, kindling the glimmer of hope at a stage when the pursuit of victory, in all fairness, looked a long shot. India went into Lunch with their spirits buoyed at 206/3, 201 shy of the target as Pant remained unbeaten on 73 off 97, while Pujara hung tight for 41. In the grander scheme of things, some of Pant's tactics came under the scanner like stationing five men on the fence in the last over before the break when a batsman's concentration is highly prone to a lapse. 

However, the evil eye cast its stare on India's fairytale as Pant, having pulverised a flurry of boundaries to caper to 97, couldn't get his timing right on an attempted loft over covers off Lyon to skew a dolly to backward point. It would be harsh to point a finger on the shot selection though as an aggressive brand of cricket had been the hallmark of his innings hitherto. The gates now bang opened, Australia took the second new ball as soon as it was due only for Pujara to drill Cummins for a hat-trick of fours. It was Josh Hazlewood who eventually drew his hardnosed resistance to a close with a mesmerising away-seamer to castle the off-stump as the departure of both the set batsmen exposed India's lower order which also comprised of an injured Ravindra Jadeja. 

With the dice now loaded in Australia's favour, Ravichandran Ashwin walked out ahead of Jadeja to accompany Hanuma Vihari at the crease. India's bid to push for a win was dashed further as Vihari pulled his right hamstring, a niggle that left him limping between the wickets. He even survived a run-out and Ashwin a review for a catch at silly point as India somehow held their nerve till Tea. The equation was clear as a crystal, with the visitors requiring 127 runs off the final session and Australia just 5 wickets away from a well-deserved victory. Albeit, with strike rotation now off the table, India had quickly amended their strategy to try and dead-bat the remaining overs and force a draw. 

The rough patches were being accentuated by both the natural process of deterioration and the legitimate tricks of close-in fielders stepping onto the danger area in the name of collecting loose throws, but Vihari and Ashwin watched the ball like a hawk and defended with soft hands to ensure India stay right on course for a stalemate. Lyon operated consistently from one end to send down as many as 46 overs while the quicks steamed in from the other as Australia moved heaven and earth to pierce through their patience, but the wounded soldiers were not to be fazed. There could have been a twist in the tale had Paine not put down his third catch of the day to reprieve Vihari off Mitchell Starc with 8 overs still in store. The resilient right-hander even flayed a couple of boundaries towards the fag end as India stonewalled their way to compel a shake of hands in a spellbinding affair which not only testified their lion-hearted valour but also proved an excellent advertisement for the purest format of the sport. 

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