Axar, Shami help India extend lead to 223

India’s lower order wagged once again on the third morning as they added 78 runs even as Todd Murphy finished with a seven-wicket haul.

The offspinner got an early breakthrough when Ravindra Jadeja was bowled on 70 shouldering arms. With both offspinners getting some purchase early in the day, there was a possibility of an early wrap up to the innings.

Mohammed Shami was then put down by Scott Boland off Nathan Lyon which turned out to be costly. Shami proceeded to dominate a 52-run stand with Axar Patel, hitting three sixes and two fours in his 37. This ensured that India’s lead went past 200.

Shami finally fell trying to hit Murphy and instead got a top edge that was snapped up by the keeper.

Mohammad Siraj then managed to hold one end up with tight defence as Axar went a little more adventurous in pursuit of his maiden Test hundred. The last wicket pair added 20 runs before the allrounder was eventually bowled off a slower ball from Pat Cummins with India finishing on an even 400.

Brief Scores: Australia 177 all out (Marnus Labuschagne 49; R Jadeja 5/47) trail India 400 all out (Rohit Sharma 120, Ravindra Jadeja 70, Axar Patel 84; Todd Murphy 7-124 by 222 runs

© Cricbuzz