India vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 4, 3rd session, Quick singles: David Warner scores another ton, Mitchell Marsh punishes Indian bowlers

The third session saw some brilliant stroke play from Warner and Mitchell Marsh and also some sloppy fielding from the Indian side. Steve Smith, though, showed why he is growing as a Test cricketer with an unbeaten 52.

Warner scores another for ‘little brother’

Nothing could possibly go wrong for Warner in this Test. After his 145 in the 1st innings, the left-hander once again produced a masterclass scoring 102 off 166 balls. He punished the bowlers and hit 11 fours and a six. He reverse-swept, he drove, he played all the shots and brought up his century with the pull over square-leg. And it is becoming a familiar sight in Test cricket with Warner jumping in the air with the helmet to celebrate the hundred.

The Australian had his share of luck with a drop catch and not to forget the Varun Aaron no-ball. An umpiring error also saw him stay at the crease but it was another magnificent batting display. He made sure that the batsmen at the other end do not feel the pressure of scoring runs quickly.

Just after his century, Warner tried a switch-hit off Karn Sharma and ended up with his off-stump getting castled. And the celebration afterwards by Virat Kohli at first slip showed how important his wicket was. Warner finished with 102. Australia, by that time, had a lead of 283 and were looking for some quick runs.

Marsh’s harsh attack

Indian bowlers picked up wickets at regular intervals in the third session but Australia never let the run-rate drop. After the fall of Warner’s wicket, Mitchell Marsh showed his might and made a quick-fire 45 of 26 balls. Australia needed to extend the lead and Marsh made sure that they do that with some quick runs.

Marsh started slowly and was on 16 off 19 when he faced Karn Sharma. He stepped out on the first ball and sent it out of the park over mid-wicket. Karn then switched to over the wicket but Marsh was up to the task playing an inside-out side over covers for four. Next ball he deposited Karn for another six. Marsh got 24 runs of that over with three sixes and a four.

That was the kind of innings Australia needed and it made sure the 350-run lead was achieved at a brisk pace. Marsh fell to Rohit Sharma going for another big one over long-on but could only manage to find Murali Vijay on the boundary.

Indian bowling

Captain Kohli tried everything to get a wicket. His bowlers got wickets but failed to stop the runs. Kohli even gave extended spells to his part-timers with Rohit bowling a total of 12 overs in which he gave 35 runs and picked up the wicket of Marsh.

The real worry for Kohli was the spin bowling. Karn Sharma did pick up the wickets of Chris Rodgers and Warner but could not stop the batsmen from scoring runs. The Australian batsmen scored at a rate of 5.91 against him.

Now that Australia are close on declaring early morning on Saturday, Kohli might not have to use the bowlers but the bowlers need to hit the right spot if they want wickets Down Under just like Mohammed Shami did to get the wicket of Shane Watson.