Australia take charge with lead of 197 in Sydney

Australia lost both openers in the final session but were in control on 103 for two with a lead of 197 runs at the close of play on the third day of the third Test against India on Saturday.

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   Australia lost both openers in the final session but were in control on 103 for two with a lead of 197 runs at the close of play on the third day of the third test against India on Saturday. Australia rolled through the Indian batting order after lunch on Saturday to dismiss the tourists for 244 and take a 94-run first-innings lead at tea on the third day of the third Test at Sydney Cricket Ground. (Source: Reuters)

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   Australia's hopes of a good score was again left in the hands of first-innings centurion Smith and Labuschagne. The pair had put on a partnership of 68 by the close of play with Smith on 29 not out and Labuschagne, who scored 91 in the first innings, unbeaten on 47. (Source: AP)

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   A double blow from the Australian pacemen to remove Rishabh Pant and Cheteshwar Pujara in successive overs midway through the session started the rot and the final six wickets tumbled for the addition of just 49 runs. (Source: AP)

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   Pujara needed no encouragement to do just that and while his fifth-wicket partnership with Pant was intact, India would have fancied their chances of getting close to or overhauling Australia's first-innings 338. (Source: AP)

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   Pat Cummins (4-29) inadvertently triggered the breakthrough when he struck Pant on forearm with a bouncer that left the wicketkeeper-batsman in considerable pain. Pant never looked comfortable from then on and departed soon afterwards for 36 after edging a Cummins delivery to David Warner in the slips. Pant was later taken to hospital for scans on his injury and will not keep wickets at the start of Australia's second innings. (Source: AP)

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   Josh Hazlewood, who brilliantly ran out Hanuma Vihari for four in the opening session, dealt the second blow to remove the obdurate Pujara caught behind for 50 runs from 176 deliveries. (Source: AP)