- Updates from the third day of play at Perth Stadium
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80th over: India 201-4 (Kohli 94, Vihari 16) The wristy slap first ball from Kohli, but he gets it too straight, between the bowler and non-striker, and Lyon is able to land on it and smother it. But the next ball, Lyon goes wide and Kohli slathers it over the turf for four! Through cover, he dropped into a crouch, aimed a diagonal bat at it, and gave it everything. Perfect contact, bringing up the 200.
Then an edge! Things are heating up. Kohli gets a leading edge over slip really, out towards gully, but there’s no one there! Lands safely, but can’t get a run. So he goes the next ball, and Vihari is nearly run out. That was a bad call, Travis Head was right there at cover, and his throw at the base of the stumps missed. Paine was there, but Heads throw hit the turf between Paine’s feet and he couldn’t gather the throw. Would have been gone for all money.
79th over: India 196-4 (Kohli 89, Vihari 16) It’s tip and run time for the Indian captain. Might as well, every run matters with the lead still standing at 134. Kohli drops Cummins into the gap at cover and sprints through again – there was a man there, but it was just to his left. Vihari favours a more direct approach, as he gets a slightly overpitched scrambled seam delivery from Cummins and drives it through mid-off for four. Cummins reverts to the bouncer. “Bowled Patty!” is the shout. And another nasty short one, with a short leg in place, but Vihari stands up tall and plays it straight down into the pitch in front of him. Exceptional defensive technique.
Written by Geoff Lemon now, Adam Collins and Rob Smyth (later)
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2018/dec/16/australia-v-india-second-test-day-three-live under the title “Australia v India: second Test, day three – live!”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
