India suffer batting collapse in rain-hit Brisbane Test

India

Australia’s pacers rattled through the Indian top order on rain-soaked day three of the third Test in Brisbane on Monday but the hosts were caught out by the same persistent conditions. 

India were 51 for four at stumps, and 394 runs behind the score of Australia in the first innings after play was cancelled almost an hour before it started due to poor lighting at the Gabba. 

Opener KL Rahul is on 33, and India captain Rohit Sharma is unbeaten in his own half. 

The bowlers of Australia managed to take only 17 overs when they were dismissed for 445 in the morning. Captain Pat Cummins was unlucky to get Rishabh Pant caught behind for nine in the first over on a rain break before tea. 

Two balls later, Rahul had a beautiful cover drive for four off Mitchell Starc, and the duo stumbled from the field as tea was early. 

Again it started raining and when it did the second over was delayed after tea, and Australia were left bowling only a couple of overs of spin under bad light, with paceman Starc finishing his interrupted over. 

The day was one to forget for the 16,180 home fans but perhaps especially for the home team, whose chances of forcing a goal slowly dwindled. 

Further angst is expected from rain again for days four and five. 

Australia though took all play in their hands and built on a terrific day two where Travis Head and Steve Smith both had centuries to lead an overwhelming total. 

Starc made two for six off the help of namesake Mitchell Marsh, and Josh Hazlewood scalped Virat Kohli as India’s response got off to a horror start. 

Starc got on the mark with the second ball of the innings, Yashasvi Jaiswal driving a ball over the pads to leave him on four, Marsh running across square leg to bag a wicket. 

Starc – a big left-armer – then turned away Shubman Gill for one as the number three drove at full delivery to leave a thick edge at Marsh, who bolted to his left in the ravine to land a monster of a catch. 

Kohli lasted just 16 balls for his 3 runs, and was caught behind a Hazlewood delivery. 

Rahul, though, made it out, having a lacerated wrist from Hazlewood’s opening ball of the morning. 

Hosts returned in the morning on 405/7 and made 40 for their last three wickets. 

Alex Carey (wicketkeeper) made a commendable 70 before getting steamed into the rope as recalled paceman Akash Deep got his first and only wicket of the innings. 

Jasprit Bumrah went for 6-76 with Starc on his side (tailender added an 18), Mohammed Siraj got Nathan Lyon out for two and made 2-97. 

The five-game series sits at 1-1, with two matches on the horizon in Melbourne and Sydney. 

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