Shardul Thakur, debutant Washington Sundar slam maiden Test 50s as India frustrate hosts

Debutant Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur slammed half-centuries each as y led India's fightback against Australia on Day three of 4th Test at Gabba on Sunday. Shardul Thakur reached his half-century in style as he blasted a maximum off Lyon's bowling to reach milestone after facing 91 deliveries. Washington Sundar brought up his maiden Test fifty a few overs later, making him second Indian player to hit a 50+ debut batting innings and take three-plus wickets in his debut bowling innings after Dattu Phadkar. duo of Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur stitched a crucial partnership helping India reduce deficit below 100 runs and continue to resist Australian bowlers as this story is being published. 

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Sundar, Thakur smash maiden fifties

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Hazlewood removes India's middle-order

Australia's Josh Hazlewood struck twice after lunch to get rid of wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant and Mayank Agarwal on day three of 4th Test at Gabba on Sunday. Mayank Agarwal was dismissed for 38 runs - just two deliveries after play had resumed post-lunch. Rishabh Pant followed Agarwal nearly six overs later as Cameron Green took a screamer at slips to send wicketkeeper-batsman back to pavilion for just 23 runs. Earlier, Hazlewood bowled a peach of a delivery to get important wicket of a well-settled Cheteshwar Pujara right before lunch. India trialled Australia by 106 runs, with Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur at crease at time of publishing this story. 

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India lost big wicket of skipper Ajinkya Rahane to a poor shot just before lunch as y reached 161 for four on third day of series-deciding fourth Test against Australia here on Sunday. This was after Mitchell Starc induced a thick edge off Rahane for Matw Wade to complete a comfortable catch in slip cordon after India captain had got away with similar shots twice in first hour of play. visitors started with ir overnight pair of Rahane (37) and Cheteshwar Pujara (25) adding 43 runs before latter fell to anear unplayable delivery by Josh Hazlewood in only his second over of day.

Until Pujara's dismissal, experienced duo raised hopes of a big partnership by negotiating formidable Australian bowling attack in first one hour of play. Pujara was his usual solid self while Rahane was a bit more adventurous and lucky as ball flew past gap between gully and third slip for boundaries on two occasions. Before getting out, Pujara square cut Mitchell Starc for a boundary and also collected four runs with a back-foot square drive through deep point.

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