India defeated Australia by 137 runs on the final day of the third Test match in Melbourne having restricted them to 258 for 8 at the end of day four on Saturday.
Pace-bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma ensured a comfortable win for the visitors, accounting for the key wickets of Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon, following a delayed start to the day's action due to rain.
India currently have a 2-1 lead in the four-match series and will be looking to ensure a similar performance in the final Test at Sydney.
Here are the live-match updates:
# India win by 137 runs and go 2-1 up in the four-match series!
The co-captains leading the Aussie side in the handshakes after India claim a great Test win #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/ZVwD3LY6uP
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 30, 2018
# Wicket! Ishant Sharma dismisses Nathan Lyon, who goes for the pull shot off a short, bouncing delivery, without any proper connect, resulting in a catch to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant. Australia 261/10 (89.3 overs)
# Josh Hazlewood is the last batsman for Australia!
# Wicket! Jasprit Bumrah has struck with the big wicket of Pat Cummins, forcing him to edge a catch to Pujara at slips off an outswinger. Australia 261/9 (88.2 overs)
# Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins have made their way down to the crease with Ishant Sharma set to kick off proceedings for India!
# The clash is set to resume shortly with the covers taken off.
# Rain has stopped and the covers are being taken off. Play is expected to resume immediately after lunch in case of no further rain.
# 71 overs remaining for the day with 11 lost so far due to rain. The clash is expected to restart after lunch at this stage.
# Lunch has been preponed and will take place at 12.15 pm local time.
There are now a minimum of 71 overs remaining today. Lunch from 12:15 to 12:55 local time #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/O8flfEHWZx
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 30, 2018
# The square and bowler's run-up has been covered at this stage. However, the day's play is not expected to be hindered to a major extent with a positive forecast for the afternoon.
Anddddddd the covers are back on #AUSvIND https://t.co/0glObm3Yz0
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 29, 2018
Weather permitting, we will have a 11AM (local time) start here at the MCG #TeamIndia #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/lnvPpOVVCw
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 29, 2018
The start of play on the final day has officially been delayed due to rain... #AUSvIND https://t.co/0glOblMnaq
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 29, 2018
Play to start on time if there is no further rain #TeamIndia #AUDvIND pic.twitter.com/ijEp9o9YWD
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 29, 2018
India moved within two wickets of an emphatic victory in the third Test after reducing Australia to 258 for eight at the close of day four on Saturday.
Having set a mammoth victory target of 399 shortly before lunch, Virat Kohli`s team attacked with precision and intensity to leave the home side on life support at the end of a muggy and overcast day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The lion-hearted Pat Cummins thwarted India`s hopes of closing out the win with a day to spare, anchoring some stubborn tail-end resistance after the top order crumbled.
The seamer was 61 not out, with Nathan Lyon on six, and Australia still 141 runs short of their victory target.
Having dominated with bat and ball throughout a one-sided contest, the tourists will almost certainly head to the Sydney finale with a 2-1 series lead and a genuine belief that they can become the first Indian team to win a series Down Under.
On a grim day for Australian cricket, Cummins was the only shining light for the home side, and recorded career-best figures of 6-27 before Kohli declared India`s second innings at 106-8 before lunch.
However, Cummins`s heroics will likely be consigned to a foot-note, squandered as they were by the familiar batting failures of his team mates.
Where straight bats were required to provide a platform of resistance, Aaron Finch got his team off to the worst possible start by throwing away his wicket for three with an unsightly cut shot off Jasprit Bumrah that was gobbled in the slips.
Recalled all-rounder Mitchell Marsh was similarly wasteful, slogging spinner Ravindra Jadeja straight to Kohli at short cover to be out for 10.
Having done the hard work to get set in his innings, Travis Head (34) fell on his sword after tea by dragging Ishant Sharma onto his stumps with a dubious drive away from his body.
Amid the help from Australia`s poor shot selection, India produced moments of brilliance to remove their more assured batsmen.
Mohammed Shami dismissed Usman Khawaja lbw for 33 shortly after lunch with a peach of a delivery, before Bumrah trapped Shaun Marsh for 44 with a searing ball.
The wily Jadeja proved a constant menace, and induced an edge off Marcus Harris (13) that lodged in Mayank Agarwal`s mid-riff.
The left-arm spinner later returned to dismiss wicketkeeper-captain Tim Paine for 26, leaving Australia to rely on their tail and a miracle to stave off defeat
Lineups:
India (XI): Virat Kohli (capt), Mayank Agarwal, Hanuma Vihari, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami.
Australia (XI): Tim Paine (capt & wk), Marcus Harris, Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood.
