Day four is India's day
India could not have dominated today's play any more. They didn't lose a wicket until the final session, and even then, the loss of a wicket allowed Jadeja to come in and hit a blistering 54 not out. Jadeja wasn't done dominating the Australians though. After Virat Kohli declared at 9/603, Ashwin and Jadeja were given the chance to bowl four overs each and boy did they make the most of it. Jadeja was particularly brilliant, cleaning up both David Warner and Nathan Lyon, to end the night with figures of two for six off 3.2 overs.
Steve Smith will walk to the centre of the ground tomorrow morning with one job ahead of him. Bat out the day. Pujara and Saha proved that you can still bat on this wicket if you are willing to defend anything that is of quality. Smith, after a brilliant 178 not out in the first innings, will need some help, though, if he is to salvage a draw for his country.
Make sure you come back tomorrow for what should be a tense final day of play.
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Lyon bowled in final over
Nathan Lyon is on strike for the final over of the day and he is not able to block out the second ball. He gets a good ball, attempts to defend the line and is beaten for spin. As that is the final over of the day, the umpires signal stumps and Australia are saved from the risk of going three down in quick succession.
The challenge posed by Jadeja is illustrated by these two deliveries: 3.6 to Renshaw sliding on, 5.1 to Warner spinning viciously. #IndvAus pic.twitter.com/oasfYLjWEK
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) March 19, 2017
The difference between the Indians on Thursday and tonight could not be greater. As Smith and Maxwell were plundering runs, they were quiet, heads down, saying very little and even lacking direction at times with Kohli off the field. Tonight, with the game firmly in their hands, they are chirping away, led by Kohli, with plenty of players around the bat making plenty of noise and placing pressure on the batsmen.
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Warner clean bowled
Jadeja throws it up, pitches this in the rough and the ball goes through the gap between bat and pad before crashing into the stumps. Warner scored 14 off 16, but he never looked comfortable. Perfect start for India, nightmare start for Australia.
Nathan Lyon has been sent out as the sacrificial lamb, sorry the night watchman. He has 2.5 overs to survive.
Back to topWarner struggling
Ashwin is all over Warner this evening. Warner is trying to stay positive and play shots, but he's not reading the spin and when he does defend, he's struggling to get bat to ball. That last over featured an LBW shot, a mis-hit and an edge.
Jadeja follows up Ashwin's effort by leaving Matt Renshaw wondering what exactly he needs to do to score runs on this pitch. 4 overs to go tonight.
Another one Australian fans don't want to see
Ashwin vs Warner in Tests:
— Alt Cricket (@AltCricket) March 19, 2017
328 balls
152 runs
9 dismissals
Avg 16.9
In theory, Ashwin with new ball in Test cricket is Warner's nightmare.
Hardly the reminder Australian fans need
This decade, Australia's record saving games couldn't be worse. If they can from here, they'll have earned the Dharamshala decider. #INDvAUS
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) March 19, 2017
Warner survives the first over, hitting two short balls through point for four. Jadeja opening the bowling from the other end tonight, with Matt Renshaw on strike.
O'Keefe finished with figures of 3/199
Most overs in innings for Aus
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) March 19, 2017
T Velvers 95.1
L Fleetwood-Smith 87
W O'Reilly 85
J Higgs 59.6 (8 ball overs)
G Griffen 78.2
S O'Keefe 77
India open with spin
India are opening with Warner's bogyman, Ravi Ashwin. Big test here for the Australian opener, the rough on this pitch is perfectly suited for Ashwin bowling to the left handers.
600 for India and Kohli declares
Jedeja deflects this down the leg side for four, moves his team past 600, the lead past 150 and Kohli waves his teammates in. The Australians walk off the field demoralised, but Dave Warner and Matt Renshaw will have ten minutes to re-energise and prepare themselves for an eight over onslaught tonight. Virat Kohli is on the field warming up, so it looks like he will take to the field for his team's bowling effort. Those innings by Pujara and Saha were the perfect panacea for his injured shoulder, especially with the match now his team's to lose.
![Runs](/web/20170321170312im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/2/b/w/3/i/image.imgtype.columnistThumbnail.60x60.png/1395569470437.jpg)
50 for Jadeja
Jadeja smashes Cummins through midwicket for four and raises his bat after a blazing 50 off 53. India now 9/599.
Looks like Australia won't be winning this match
#WinViz has an Indian win as the favourite. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/MWMFKoufmh
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) March 19, 2017
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O'Keefe picks up a third
Umesh attempts to slog O'Keefe over midwicket, but slices the ball to David Warner at mid off who takes a low catch. Ishant Sharma will walk out to bat at number 11. 11.4 overs toplay tonight, minus two for a change of innings.
Back to top50 Partnership
Pat Cummins is into the attack in an attempt to stem the tide, but it has not worked. Two fours to Yadav sees the partnership fly past 50. This is bad news for Australia.
Jadeja going big
Jadeja has moved into the 40s at a blistering pace, hitting sixes in successive overs and punishing the Australian spinners.
WA wins Sheffield Shield thriller
That Sheffield Shield match that I mentioned earlier has gone down to the wire. NSW started the day requiring 403 runs to win, a mammoth challenge but one they had to overcome if they were to book a place in the final. The match came down to a thrilling final session, with NSW needing 147 runs with seven wickets in hand at tea. However, a six wicket haul from Ashton Turner, including five after tea, turned the tide in WA's favour. Ultimately the match came down to the last few overs, with Peter Nevill attempting to salvage a victory as his tail fell around him. He eventually fell for 63 in the second last over, his team falling just seven runs short of their target and agonisingly short of a finals berth.
India 8/565 at drinks
India have batted with an attacking mindset for the past hour and they have plenty of runs for the loss of two wickets to show for it. Both Pujara and Saha have fallen but Jadeja has picked up where they left off, scoring 28 off 32. A declaration is not far away, which will set up a tense final hour for the Australian batsmen.
This Indian tail is causing plenty of headaches for Steve Smith, Jadeja is now 26 off 28 balls and looking quite comfortable.
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