Third India-Australia Test ends in a draw as weather spoils

Third India-Australia Test ends in a draw as weather spoils

Australian players abandon the third Test of Border Gavaskar Trophy which ends in a draw due to rain in Brisbane on December 18, 2024. – AFP

Australia and India will enter the Boxing Day Test with the series level, following a draw in the third Test at the Gabba in Brisbane.

The match was heavily affected by bad weather, with just 24.1 overs played on the fifth day before the umpires decided to call it off shortly after tea due to poor light and impending rain.

India were 8-0 in their chase of 275 with 54 overs remaining to get the remaining runs.

Throughout the match, rain and bad weather hampered play, with just 216.1 overs played over five days, far below the normal Test match length.

On the first day, only 13.2 overs were possible, while the third day saw just 33.1 overs.

Despite the weather disruptions, Australia managed to make significant inroads into India’s batting, reducing them to 74 for 5 in response to Australia’s first innings total of 445.

However, India’s fightback came in the form of important contributions from KL Rahul (84) and Ravindra Jadeja (77), who scored half-centuries, while a resilient 47-run 10th-wicket partnership between Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah kept India in the game.

Australia’s bowling attack, weakened by the absence of Josh Hazlewood due to a calf strain, faced additional challenges as they relied on just two frontline fast bowlers for much of the match.

Despite the weather interference, Australia remained in a dominant position, pushing for victory.

After a quick post-lunch session on the fifth day, they declared 89/7, with Pat Cummins hitting a quickfire 22 off 10 balls.

Australia, however, were unable to fully capitalize, and India’s opener saw out safely 2.1 overs before poor light ended the game for the final time.

India’s resilience and weather disruption left both teams without a definitive result as the Test ended in a draw.

The series is tied at 1-1 with both teams now heading to the Boxing Day Test, which begins on December 26 in Melbourne.

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