Related Links: Australia Tour of India 2012/13 | India Vs Australia, 3rd Test Scorecard
India took an unassailable series lead of 3-0 after beating Australia by 6 wickets in the 3rd Test at the PCA Stadium in Mohali on Monday. The Australian batting crumbled yet again as the Indian spin trio bowled magnificently to sustain the pressure from both the ends. Australia resuming Day 5 at 75 for 3 were bowled out for 223. The visitors would have been bundled out much cheaper but for the lower order resistance.
The hosts had a perfect starting as Pragyan Ojha got night watchman Nathan Lyon nicking behind a turning ball early in the morning session. Although Skipper Michael Clarke walked in despite a back spasm, he could only last 49 balls for his 18 before getting caught bat pad trying to flick a quicker one from Ravindra Jadeja. Overnight batsman Phil Hughes was wrongly adjudged lbw by Aleem Dar after the left hander was struck by an arm ball from R Ashwin which was angling down leg from round the sticks.
Moises Henriques drove early to a tossed up delivery from Jadeja and spooned a return catch to the bowler who dived full length to his left to accept it. Later, Peter Siddle lost his off stump to a Pragyan Ojha that spun across the bat face from middle. Australia slipped from 75 for 3 to 143 for 8 in the matter of one session! Brad Haddin (30) prolonged the innings with Mitchell Starc before departing after lunch, lbw after failing to read a carrom ball from R Ashwin which sent him deep back in the crease in defence. After an annoying last wicket stand of 44 runs in 18.1 overs, India finally got Mitchell Starc out with Jadeja getting one to bite off the surface to force the left hander to glove it to leg slip. Starc batted out 100 balls for his 35 while last man Xavier Doherty faced 56 balls for his 18*.
Australia bowled out for 223 left India with a target of 133 to get in one and a half sessions with a minimum of 33 overs. India got slightly more than that and had lost four wickets in its successful run chase. Murali Vijay gave the initial momentum scoring 26 from 33 balls before he was stumped off Doherty in an inside out lofted shot. Shikhar Dhawan did not come out to bat because of a hand injury sustained during fielding on Day 4. Cheteshwar Pujara who opened the batting in his absence contributed 28 from 51 balls before he got lbw to Nathan Lyon in a false pull shot.
Virat Kohli played a crucial innings of 34 from 61 balls before he was caught uppishly flicking Peter Siddle to short mid wicket. After Tea, India struggled to get the runs freely in the last hour and Sachin Tendulkar who started off on a positive note with 21 from 23 balls got run out trying to steal a single under pressure. Skipper MS Dhoni who batted very slowly made up for it in the end whacking three fours in his 18* from 28 balls while it was Ravindra Jadeja who made the difference with his cameo of 8* from 5 balls with 2 fours. Shikhar Dhawan got the Man of the Match for his first innings century.