Melbourne: Pacer Jasprit Bumrah had Australia’s batsmen tied up in knots with his immaculate line and length, giving India the decisive advantage that withstood a second innings batting collapse in the third Test here on Friday.
Called a “genius” on air by Australia’s former captain Michael Clarke, Bumrah’s career-best figures of 6 for 33 in 15.5 overs also made him the first bowler from the subcontinent to take a five-for or more in South Africa, England and Australia in the same year.
At the end of day three, India, after bowling out Australia for 151 in response to their first innings total of 443 for 7 declared, took a 346-run lead. The visitors were struggling at 54 for 5 in 27 overs in their second essay but had the upper-hand.
Debutant Mayank Agarwal (28 batting), who scored an impressive 76 in the first innings, and Rishabh Pant (6) were at the crease after 15 wickets fell in all on an exciting day.
In their second innings, India were jolted by Pat Cummins (4 for 10), who took four wickets for two runs in the space of 19 balls, including Virat Kohli (0) and Ajinkya Rahane (0) caught off successive balls.
Rohit Sharma (5) prevented his hat-trick, but fell before end of play.
This was after Bumrah’s outstanding effort handed India a 292-run lead.
Bumrah returned second-best figures for an Indian bowler in Australia after Kapil Dev’s 8 for106 at Adelaide in 1985. But he surpassed B.S. Chandresekhar’s twin hauls of 6 for 52 in each innings at this ground in 1977.
