Australian batsman Peter Handscomb, who hasn’t scored an impactful knock thus far in the ongoing series, shone to the maximum on Monday when he scored unbeaten 72 runs while batting resolute on the fifth day of the third Test against India at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi.

The 25-year-old Victoria-born batsman helped the visitors escape a defeat and the match ended in a draw.

Advertisement

Cheteshwar Pujara’s 202-run knock, unbeaten 178 runs by Steve Smith and Ravindra Jadeja’s nine wickets from two innings were the most cherished moments of the intense Test.

Besides all this, we present you a list of talking points from the fifth and the final day of Ranchi’s debut Test match.

Ishant’s temper on turf

The Delhi-born pacer Ishant Sharma exhibited typical temper of a boy from the National Capital when an heated exchange between him and Australian opener Matt Renshaw ended up with a humiliating dismissal.

It all started with a furious throw by the Indian pacer when Renshaw pulled out a bit from the batting crease. The ball didn’t hit the Aussie but the incident led to some verbal exchanges between the two cricketers.

Captains from both the sides, Steve Smith and Virat Kohli intervened to defuse the argument. However, Sharma decided to answer through some fiery deliveries when he resumed his over.

Following two short-pitch deliveries that daunted the young hitter, Sharma deceived him as he bowled a full-length delivery to tap him LBW.

Jadeja keeps India on driver’s seat

Spinner Ravindra Jadeja, who claimed two big wickets late on Day 4 to give India a strong start, continued his dominance on the fifth and final day of the Test.

On Monday, Jadeja dismissed Australian captain Steve Smith, who scored a splendid 178-run knock (not out) in the first innings, misjudged Jadeja’s delivery pitching middle and leg stump.

This was the third time when Jadeja has dismissed the visiting captain in the ongoing series. Smith has manged to score just 105 runs off 320 balls at the strike rate of 32.82, while facing Jadeja. While playing against others Indian bowlers, his willow smashed 266 runs off 506 at the strike rate of 52.56 with two dismissals.

In all, the 28-year-old orthodox spinner claimed five and four wickets respectively in two innings of the Ranchi Test.

Resolute pair of Handscomb and Marsh

A determined pair of Peter 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.

The partnership came to rescue Australians after early blows on the final day of the Test as Australia appeared struggling at 83/4 earlier at lunch.

Calling the pair “resilient”, the Australian skipper Steve Smith hailed them in the post-match ceremony, “A pretty good test. Proud of the way the boys stuck it out. That's what we want to be – resilient,” he said.