Sydney Test: India 98/2 On Day 4 In Chase Of Australia's 407 (Report)

India lost openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill on Sunday in their pursuit of a 407-run target set by Australia in the ongoing third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

Brief scores: India 244 and 98/2 at Stumps on Day 4 (Rohit Sharma 52, Shubman Gill 31; Josh Hazlewood 1/11), Australia 338 and 312/6 decl (Cameron Green 84, Steve Smith 81; Navdeep Saini 2/54)

India vs Australia, Sydney Test Day 4 Report

Australia had resumed the day on 103 for two after India were bowled out for 244 in the first innings in reply to Australia's 338, with Smith on 29 and Labuschagne 47.

Labuschagne should have fallen the second ball, but an appalling error by Hanuma Vihari left bowler Jasprit Bumrah clutching his face in disbelief. He flicked a delivery at knee height for what should have been a regulation catch, but it somehow hit Vihari's wrist and went to the ground.

Labuschagne brought up back-to-back 50s and looked comfortable until Saini snapped his 103-run partnership with Smith. Matthew Wade quickly went for four. 

Can India Save This Test On Day 5?
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Resuming the post-lunch session at 182/4, Smith and Green collected runs at a brisk pace and scored boundaries at will, thus adding pressure on the Indian bowlers. Smith (81), however, missed out on his second century of the match as he got out lbw against off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for the third time in the series.

Green, 21, again showed composure to help solidify his place in the team, bringing up his 50 with a boundary then smacking three huge sixes before getting caught by Saha off Bumrah as he swung the bat again. 

Australia's declaration came after Green fell on the stroke of tea for an entertaining 84, his maiden Test half-century, with captain Tim Paine unbeaten on 39. 

Chasing a mammoth target, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill once again provided India with a good start as the duo added 71-runs for the opening wicket. Both the batters collected runs at a brisk pace.

Second consecutive innings fifty runs partnership between Rohit & Gill

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Gill, who has cemented his place in the side after making a debut this series, again looked at home until he nicked a Hazlewood delivery to Tim Paine behind the stumps on 31. Sharma brought up his 11th Test 50 before being caught at fine leg hooking a Cummins short ball.

Cheteshwar Pujara survived some nervy moments in the initial stage of his innings. Criticized heavily for his slow batting in the first innings, he continued to bat in the same manner. Pujara (9*) and skipper Ajinkya Rahane (4*) made sure India didn't lose any further wicket till the end of the day's play.

Scorecard: Australia vs India