Ind vs Aus, 4th Test Day 3: Ashiwn, Jadeja, wrap-up Australia innings, India need 106 to win

Dharamsala: India took a commanding position in the fourth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, as they require just 87 more runs to win the match.

India openers KL Rahul and Murali Vijay came out to bat with just six overs left for the day's play to end, and put up 19 runs on the board, after the Aussies were cleaned-up by the Indian bowlers for 137 runs.

Australia experienced a massive collapse in their second innings of their fourth and final Test in Dharamsala, to be bowled over by the Indians.

As the Indians had carried a 32-run lead over from the first innings, they need just 106 runs to clinch the four-match Test series 2-1, and reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

While debutant Kuldeep Yadav starred in the first innings with four wickets, it was the senior trio of Umesh Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja, who did the trick in the second innings, picking up three wickets each; medium pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up the remaining wicket – the all-important wicket of Australia captain Steve Smith.

India bowlers came out all guns in the post-lunch session on the third day of the fourth and final Test of the Borde-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia, on Monday.

Umesh Yadav was the pick of the bowlers in this session, as he peppered the Aussies with a flurry of bouncers, proving that the Dharamsala pitch does indeed has something in it for the pacemen; even Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is known more for his swing, rather than his pace and bounce, managed to surprise David Warner with some short-pitched stuff.

Bhuvneshwar got his just reward, when Aussie captain Steve Smith pulled one of his deliveries onto his off-stump.

Australia managed to restrict India’s lead to 32 despite Ravindra Jadeja’s quickfire fifty as the match continues to hang in balance after Australia ended Indian innings for 332 on Day 3 of the fourth and final Test here on Monday.

Jadeja's stroke-filled half-century enabled India to end at 332 all out and gain a slender 32-run first innings lead at lunch.

Jadeja (63 off 95 balls) reached his seventh half-century in Tests with the help of four boundaries and four sixes. The lead however small it may be will certainly provide a psychological advantage to the Indian bowlers.

The seventh wicket partnership of 96 runs in 30 overs with Wriddhiman Saha (31) could well prove to be the turning point on this Dharamsala track, where three Indian spinners will be in operation in the third innings of the match.

For Australia, Nathan Lyon (5/98) had a five-wicket haul. Saha, on his part again showed steely temperament despite another testing morning spell by Patrick Cummins (3/94) and Josh Hazlewood (1/51).

Jadeja was adjudged caught behind off the very first ball of the third morning bowled by Cummins but he promptly used DRS to get a favourable decision after the TV replays confirmed that there was no edge.

He also got stuck by a snorter from Cummins that hit him on the helmet but the feisty cricketer didn’t show any discomfort.

His best shot off the morning was a picture perfect straight drive off Cummins that raced through grass blades. The moment, Lyon flighted one, he jumped out to loft him effortlessly over long-off for his third six. He also had a streaky boundary off Lyon past the slip cordon.

While Saha dabbed around for singles and occasional doubles, Jadeja took risks at will. A quick single brought up his 50 and there was customary sword wielding celebration from the man. In fact, Jadeja joined Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Murali Vijay among others, who have surpassed 50 six times in the current season. He also became the second Indian cricketer after Kapil Dev to achieve the double of 500 runs and 50 wickets in the season.

He was not afraid of the short pitched stuff bowled by Cummins as he pulled him to deep mid-wicket for a boundary and then for good measure hooked him behind square for his fourth six.

Cummins had the last laugh when he played on trying to smash a fullish delivery. Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s (0) nightmare of a Test match continued as Steve O?Keefe got his first victim of the match.

Cummins then got Saha with an unplayable delivery that climbed big on him as he tried to awkwardly fend it. The ball popped up off his gloves and Steve Smith backpedalled and timed his jump to perfection to take a spectacular catch.

For the record, both Jadeja and Saha completed their individual 1000 runs in Test cricket.