Gritty half-centuries from Peter Handscomb and Shaun Marsh enabled Australia to hold out for a draw in the third Test against India on Monday, leaving the four-match series tantalisingly poised at 1-1.
Australia, who began their second innings 152 runs adrift of the hosts, were in deep trouble after being reduced to 63-4 in Ranchi before Handscomb (72 not out) and Marsh (53) put on 124 for the fifth wicket.The tourists eventually reached 204 for 6 at stumps on the fifth and final day, after the hosts made a mammoth 603-9 declared in their first innings.
Scoreboard
Australia 1st innings 451 (S. Smith 178 not out, G. Maxwell 104; R. Jadeja 5-124, U. Yadav 3-106)
India 1st innings 603-9 dec (C. Pujara 202, W. Saha 117; P. Cummins 4-106, S. O'Keefe 3-199)
Australia 2nd innings (overnight 23-2; Renshaw seven not out)
D. Warner b Jadeja 14
M. Renshaw lbw b Sharma 15
N. Lyon b Jadeja 2
S. Smith b Jadeja 21
S. Marsh c Vijay b Jadeja 53
P. Handscomb not out 72
G. Maxwell c Vijay b Ashwin 2
M. Wade not out 9
Extras (b9, lb4, nb3) 16
Total (6 wickets; 100 overs) 204
Did not bat bat: S. O'Keefe, P. Cummins, J. Hazlewood
Fall of wickets: 1-17 (Warner), 2-23 (Lyon), 3-59 (Renshaw), 4-63 (Smith), 5-187 (Marsh), 6-190 (Maxwell)
Bowling: Ashwin 30-10-71-1, Jadeja 44-18-54-4, Yadav 15-2-36-0, Sharma 11-0-30-1 (3nb)
Toss: Australia
Result: Draw
Series: Four-match series level at 1-1
