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Patna : The third test match between India and Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground , Sydney, Australia, ended in a draw on Day 5 on January 11, 2021, as all-rounder Hanuma Vihari and spinner Ravichandran Ashwin batted for 42.4 over facing 259 balls to save the match for their country. Australia did not bowl the last over as captain Tim Paine thought his team was unlikely to get 5 remaining wickets in 6 balls. Vihari and Ashwin faced 35 overs in the third session alone.
The two players showed tremendous grit and resolve to draw the test, which Australia appeared to win after taking the wickets of Rishabh Pant (97) and Cheteshwar Pujara (77) in the 2nd session of play. Vihari, who was unable to run, batted extremely well despite suffering hamstring injury early while batting. They did not take many runs as they were focussed on drawing the test to keep the series alive. Vihari and Ashwin added 62 runs in their unbroken partnership for the 6th wicket. Ashwin remained unbeaten on 39 in 128 balls with 7 fours while an injured Vihari remained unbeaten on 23 in 161 balls with 4 fours.
Earlier, Rishabh Pant played an explosive knock of 97 118 balls hitting 12 fours and 3 sixes raising visions of victory for India. Pant and Pujara added 148 runs for the 4th wicket. Pant fell to spinner Nathan Lyon making it 250/4. Pujara fell to Josh Hazlewood for 77 in 205 balls with 12 fours and it was 272/5 in 88.2 overs. Pujara hit Pat Cummins for 3 successive fours in 83rd over. Resuming at their overnight score of 98/2, India lost their 3rd wicket that of captain Ajinkya Rahane at 102. Rahane fell to Lyon for 4 and it was 102/3.
Set a target of 407 t win the match, India ended day 5 at 334/5 in 131 overs. Steven Smith was named Palyer Of The Match. Australia captain said this draw is hard to swallow. Smith said India fought really hard.