Ravindra Jadeja led the way with bot bat and ball as India ended Day 3 of the second Test against Australia at Melbourne in a commanding position. It was Jadeja’s half-century that played a key part in India taking a 131-run lead in the first innings and he ended the second innings with figures of 2-25 as Australia were 133-6 at stumps. The hosts now face a tall order to get a competitive total on the board in the final two days of the Test.
Ravindra Jadeja standing in front of a crowd: India vs Australia: Ravindra Jadeja Stars with Bat & Ball as Visitors End Day 3 in Position of Strength© Provided by News18 India vs Australia: Ravindra Jadeja Stars with Bat & Ball as Visitors End Day 3 in Position of Strength\
Resuming the final session on 65-2, Australia lost four more wickets in quick succession. The first to depart was Steve Smith, who was bowled round the legs by Jasprit Bumrah, the ball just clipping the stumps and dislodging the bails.
Matthew Wade was then dismissed LBW by Jadeja, with not even a review being able to extend what was a dogged innings by the makeshift left-hand opener.
Travis Head then edged one to Mayank Agarwal in the slips, giving Mohammed Siraj his first wicket of the innings. Tim Paine then edged one to Rishabh Pant off Jadeja but the decision again needed DRS intervention after the umpire gave him not out at first.
All-rounders Cameron Green (17) and Pat Cummins (15) batted through the remainder of the day with minimal fuss as the Indian bowlers toiled hard but failed to get another breakthrough.
Earlier, Australia began their second innings on a disastrous note as Joe Burns (4) not only got out for a poor score, but also wasted a review after Umesh Yadav opened him up with one that swung away very late.