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Fast pitcher Pat Cummins has given Australia the lead after three days of Test 3 against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Cummins eliminated Cheteshwar Pujara for the fourth time in three events this summer, winning 4-29 to have India with 244 points.
In the stumps Saturday, Marnus Labuschagne was not out with 47 and Steve Smith unbeaten with 29 for a 197-run lead.
Ryan Pierse / Getty Images
Pat Cummins of Australia celebrates after taking the Cheteshwar Pujara wicket of India during the third day of the third test.
The pair posted a crucial undefeated 68 for the third wicket after starters Will Pucovski (10) and David Warner (13) fell early.
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Earlier, Cummins and Josh Hazlewood starred with the ball to help Australia take the lead after India resumed the third day at 96-2.
Rick Rycroft / AP
Australia’s Steve Smith swings and misses the ball during the game on Day 3 of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, Australia on Saturday, January 9, 2021 (AP Photo / Rick Rycroft) .
Three batters from India were also without on Saturday, including Hanuma Vihari with a sensational effort from Josh Hazlewood that helped turn the game around. Hazlewood knocked Vihari off his ground by several feet with a direct blow to the stumps.
With the weather finally cooperating in the SCG on Saturday after two days of game-restricting rain, Hazlewood’s launch as he dived to his right and fell to the ground from mid-takeoff hit the stumps sideways, leaving Vihari ( 4), well off your ground.
“It was good to make that kind of breakthrough,” Hazlewood said as she got up from the ground during lunch.
Australia’s captain and goalkeeper Tim Paine unleashed an expletive spiel to referee Paul Wilson about the test cricket umpire review system, asking for some “consistency.”
Paine was angered after Pujara survived a bat-pad review on the 13th, with no evidence that he had passed the ball. With Nathan Lyon seeking his first ground of the Sydney Test, Paine immediately sent the no-out call to the third referee after Matthew Wade’s catch was rejected.
Wade’s body blocked repetitions of the hot spots on his legs, while the “snicko” indicating the ball hit the bat showed very little movement as the ball passed over the bat.
Rick Rycroft / AP
Ravichandran Ashwin of India celebrates as referee Paul Reiffel, left, signals the removal of Australian David Warner.
Third referee Bruce Oxenford looked at the offside spot and did not see a mark as the inside edge of the bat turned, before continuing with the no-out call, prompting a verbal barrage from Paine.
Both India starters were knocked out before the stumps on Friday, Rohit Sharma at 26 and Shubman Gill at 50, to leave India 96-2 on the third day.
Ryan Pierse / Getty Images
Tim Paine and Nathan Lyon of Australia question referee Paul Wilson about a DRS referral against Cheteshwar Pujara of India during the third day of the third test.
On Friday, Smith’s 131, his first century since the 2019 Ashes and Australia’s first in this series, helped lift the hosts to their total. India spinner Ravi Jadeja took 4-62 and completed a spectacular run to fire Smith and finish innings.
The four-game Border-Gavaskar trophy series is tied at 1-1. The Indian starter hopes to secure it with a victory in Sydney and Australia needs to win the series to get it back.
Australia won the first day and night match in Adelaide by eight wickets and India responded with an eight wickets victory in Melbourne last week.
