India scrapped their way to 122 for two at lunch on the third day of the fourth test against Australia today, adding just 51 runs to their first innings tally at the cost of Rohit Sharma’s wicket.
The tourists, 2-0 down in the four-match series and resuming on 71-1, have taken a cautious approach to cutting into the huge deficit they face after Australia declared on a mammoth 572-7 on Wednesday.
Sharma (53) had just reached his fifth test half century with a drive over extra cover for four when he attempted a sweep only to drag a Nathan Lyon delivery onto his stumps with a bottom edge.
That broke a 96-run partnership with opener Lokesh Rahul, who survived to reach his first test half century from 161 balls and will resume after the break on 50 not out alongside his captain Virat Kohli (16 not out).
The Australian pace attack helped stem the flow of runs to a great extent today.
