Handscomb stood tall in front of his wicket to help Australia draw the third Test.
Peter Handscomb (Photo: AFP)
Middle-order batsman Peter Handscomb stood tall in front of his wicket to help Australia draw the third Test at the JSCA International Complex, Ranchi that concluded on Monday.
The four-match Test series is level by 1-1 and thus, the fourth Test, to be held at Dharamsala on March 25-29, would be crucial for both the sides.
A determined pair of Handscomb (72*) and Shaun Marsh (53) helped Australia avoid a close defeat as they put a 124-run partnership stand for the fifth-wicket, second longest in the ongoing series after 199-run partnership between Cheteshwar Pujara and Wriddhiman Saha.
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The partnership came to rescue Australians after early blows on the fifth and final day of the Test as Australia appeared struggling at 83/4 earlier at lunch.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade (9*) was batting alongside Handscomb when the day concluded with Australia at 204/6.
"A pretty good test. Proud of the way the boys stuck it out. That's what we want to be. Resilient," Australian skipper Steve Smith said in the post-match ceremony.
Smith had scored exemplary knock of 178 runs (not out) in the first innings to propel the visitors to a strong total of 451 runs.
However, the 27-year-old was sent back to pavilion early in the second innings as Indian tweaker Ravindra Jadeja (4/54) dismissed him for just 21 runs.
Cheteshwar Pujara, who smashed 202 runs off 525 balls playing the record-longest Test innings, was bestowed with the Man Of The Match award.
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