Aus vs Ind, 3rd Test: 'Lucky' Australia Dominates, India Misses Opportunities; Score 166/2 At End Of Day 1
It was a series of missed opportunities for India on Day 1 of the third test match at Sydney as Australia ends in a dominating position.
The day began with Navdeep Saini and Will Pucovski getting test caps from their respective camps on a cloudy morning. Tim Paine won the toss and asked Pucovski to open the innings with David Warner on a flat SCG pitch. Warner, however, couldn't do much as Mohammad Siraj got him caught at slips in the sixth over. The rain stopped the play the next over as early lunch was taken.
Marnus Labuschagne and Will Pucosvski rode their luck during their 100 run partnership for the next 30 overs. Pucovski, in particular, survived three chances during his maiden half-century. Rishabh Pant's wicket-keeping skills once again came under scrutiny as he dropped the debutant batsman two times in a gap of 15 minutes. Soon, Pucovski survived a run-out when he had to run back from the middle of the pitch, which Jasprit Bumrah didn't notice. Indian debutant Navdeep Saini got the better of 'lucky' Pucovski eventually.
Steve Smith looked set from the first ball on his favorite Sydney ground. The flat pitch and old ball helped Smith get off to an attacking start to his innings. Labuschagne, on the other hand, played a usual knock and scored his first half-century against India. The two added 60 runs from 125 balls for the third wicket and remained not out at the end of the day's play.
Brief Score: 166/2 in 55 overs (Marnus Labuschagne - 67*, Will Pucovski - 62; Mohammad Siraj - 1/46)