Sundar, Shardul lead fightback at Gabba

Magical stand between tailenders Shardul, Sundar keeps India afloat

Shardul Thakur (right) and Washington Sundar stitched together a 100-run partnership for the seventh wicket as India fought back from a precarious position on Sunday into almost first-innings parity in the series-deciding Test at Gabba. The partnership formed with the visitors in trouble at 186 for 6 in reply to Australia’s 369, and with no more recognised batsmen in the pavilion, added 123 runs — an Indian record for the seventh wicket at the Gabba in Brisbane.

Brisbane, Jan. 17: Debutant Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur punched above their weight with splendid half-centuries to keep Australia at bay and India bullish after an engrossing third day’s play in the series-deciding fourth Test here on Sunday.

Australia’s openers — David Warner (20) and Marcus Harris (1) — saw out six overs, and extended the home team’s lead to 54 by stumps after India’s first innings ended at 336.

However, Australia’s lead could have been much more had it not been for a delightful 123-run partnership for the seventh wicket between Washington (62) and Shardul (67), who defied and then attacked the rival bowling attack with gusto.

“We knew their bowlers were tiring out a bit so it was a matter of hanging in there for one hour. We knew we probably would be on top if we hung in,” said Shardul at the postplay press conference.

Pacer Josh Hazlewood finished with a welldeserved 5/57 for Australia, a reward for consistently bowling with an impeccable line and length at a brisk pace.

Symbolising the courage shown by the visitors, now rendered almost secondstring owing to a plethora of injures suffered by their top players through the four-match series, Washington and Shardul mixed caution with aggression to bail their team out of a precarious 186 for six.

First, they turned unlikely saviours after three soft dismissals pushed India on the back foot, and in the final session, the two opened up and went after the world-class Australian attack.

If his nine fours were not enough, Shardul bludgeoned off-spinner Nathan Lyon, holder of 397 wickets, for a maximum over long-on to reach his maiden Test fifty in style in only his second match.

In fact, Shardul opened his account with a hooked six off the world’s number one bowler, Pat Cummins.

Playing in his first Test, Washington too soon got to his maiden fifty in the traditional format while finding the fence seven times and clearing it once.

He became the first visiting cricketer in Australia in 74 years to grab three wickets and smash a halfcentury on debut.

The one before him was also an Indian, Dattu Phadkar, who made 51 while batting at No.8 and took three wickets during a 1947/48 tour.

— AFP Washington Sundar (right) is congratulated by Shardul Thakur after reaching his half century against Australia on Day Three of the fourth Test at the Gabba in Brisbane on Sunday.