Chasing a mammoth target of 407 on the fourth innings of the third test between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the Indian cricket team showed great character and resilience to draw the test match which was going in favour of the hosts.
India scored 334 runs for five wickets on Day 5 to defy the Australians. Trailing by 309 on the start of Day 5, the match seemed to be going away from the visitors after losing the skipper Ajinkya Rahane early in the day to skipper Nathan Lyon. The stand-in captain could only manage four runs. However, Risabh Pant (97 off 118 balls) and the ever-steady Cheteswar Pujara (77 off 205 balls) produced an amazing 148-run stand to stage a turnaround for India.
Just as it was beginning to look like that India was set for an improbable win, both Pujara and Pant fell and India’s hopes began to fade again. But Ravichandran Ashwin and an injured Hanuma Vihari had other plans. A resolute Ashwin and a hamstrung Vihari battled pain and a hostile Australian bowling attack while displaying the largely extinct art of Test-saving batsmanship to snatch a remarkable draw for India. Vihari remained unbeaten after scoring 23 runs off 161 balls while veteran spinner Ashwin showed his experience with an unbeaten 39-run knock of 128 balls.
The four match test series is currently set at 1-1 with the final test set to take place in Brisbane from January 15.
