Highlights, India vs Australia, 3rd Test, Day 3 in Melbourne: Visitors 54/5 at stumps; lead by 346 runs

And that brings us to the end of what turned out to be a fascinating Day 3 of the third Test at the MCG. While India are reeling at 54/5 in their second essay, with the trio of Pujara, Kohli and Rahane scoring a total of one run between themselves, India are ahead by 346 runs and still are favourites to emerge victors. Australia, on the other hand, will be draw hope from the showers that have been forecast over the next two days. 

Do join us tomorrow in our coverage of Day 4.  For now, it's a goodbye from us. 

15 wickets in the day. Unreal Test cricket, but India will be very happy with what they have achieved today. They are primed for a 2-1 lead in the series. Rain might have a say on it though. But don't count out Australia's poor batting show. Lead is 346. Some would say they have enough already. 

After 27 overs,India 54/5 ( Mayank Agarwal 28 , Rishabh Pant (W) 6)

Hazlewood bowls out the final over of the day. Pant collects his first boundary with a pull off a short ball down the leg side, bringing up the 50 for the visiting team. Pant guides the ball towards the leg side off the penultimate ball for a single, leaving Agarwal to face the last delivery, with a leg bye coming off the last ball.

India stretch their lead to 346 at stumps on the third day, and still are very much in control of this Test despite losing a flurry of wickets in their second innings for cheap. 

FOUR! Short and outside leg, and Pant pulls it wide of the keeper, collecting a boundary to bring up the 50 for the Indians. IND 52/5

Last over before stumps. 

After 26 overs,India 48/5 ( Mayank Agarwal 28 , Rishabh Pant (W) 1)

Lyon to Pant with an FSL and a slip in place. Meanwhile Paine plays up his banter game, talking about getting Pant drafted into the Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL should he get a few big hits. Pant does go for the lofted shot down the ground off the last delivery, and collects a single. 

Least runs added by Indian No.3-No.6 batsmen in a Test innings: (All four batted)

6 v England, Manchester, 1946 (1st inn)

6 v Australia, MCG, 2018* (2nd inn)

9 v NZ, Hyderabad, 1969 (1st inn)

9 v WI, Ahmedabad, 1983 (2nd inn)

Two overs left in the day's play. The last thing India would want is for another wicket to fall, especially that of the set Agarwal. 

After 25 overs,India 47/5 ( Mayank Agarwal 28 , Rishabh Pant (W) 0)

Crisp drive off Agarwal's bat off the second delivery, only to find the fielder at cover. The opener has to duck to a sharp bouncer off the fourth delivery. Maiden to Hazlewood. 

After 24 overs,India 47/5 ( Mayank Agarwal 28 , Rishabh Pant (W) 0)

Lyon continues from the other end. Agarwal goes for a late cut towards third man off the last delivery, coming back for a third run. Three off the over. 

After 23 overs,India 44/5 ( Mayank Agarwal 25 , Rishabh Pant (W) 0)

Hazlewood returns to the attack in place of Cummins, and removes Rohit off the penultimate delivery of the over to collect his first wicket, as India lose their fifth. Pant joins Agarwal at the centre, with the visitors staring at the ignominy of getting shot out for less than 100. 

OUT! Rohit's caught at slip while looking to slash a back-of-length delivery from Hazlewood. IND 44/5

Rohit c S Marsh b Hazlewood 5(18)

Josh Hazlewood brought back into the attack. Another five overs left, including this one, today. 

After 22 overs,India 44/4 ( Mayank Agarwal 25 , Rohit Sharma 5)

Rohit gets an inside-edge that sends the ball wide of FSL, with a shout of "CATCH" coming from Paine. It's a tight leg-side field, with a silly mid on and a forward short leg in place. "BEAUTIFUL GOAT! MOP HIM UP" goes the Australian skipper behind the stumps with Rohit on strike. Quick single off the fifth delivery. One off the over. 

After 21 overs,India 43/4 ( Mayank Agarwal 25 , Rohit Sharma 4)

Agarwal edges with soft hands to thread the gap between slip and gully to collect a boundary. Gets a brace two deliveries later after guiding a full delivery towards square-leg. Six off the over. Six off the over. 

FOUR! Agarwal plays this with soft hands and edges it through the gap between slip and gully. IND 41/4

After 20 overs,India 37/4 ( Mayank Agarwal 19 , Rohit Sharma 4)

Appeal for lbw first ball after Rohit takes a long stride forward and blocks it out with his pad. Turned down by the umpire. Single collected by Rohit off the fourth delivery. Mayank collects a single off the penultimate ball. Two off the over. 

After 19 overs,India 35/4 ( Mayank Agarwal 18 , Rohit Sharma 3)

Rohit guides the ball towards fine leg off the first delivery to collect a single, keeping the ball grounded unlike Pujara and Kohli. Appeal for lbw off the penultimate ball, with umpire Erasmus turning it down. Just one off the over. Cummins' figures currently read 5-2-4-4.

After 18 overs,India 34/4 ( Mayank Agarwal 18 , Rohit Sharma 2)

Rohit is a little hesitant after Agarwal calls for a single, with the latter making it to the striker's end in the nick of time. Dots of the remaining deliveries of the over.

After 17 overs,India 33/4 ( Mayank Agarwal 18 , Rohit Sharma 1)

Cummins removes Rahane off the very first ball of the over, and is on a hat-trick by the time Rohit walks to the crease. He packs the leg side up and serves him a back-of-length delivery down the leg side. Rohit pulls, and is able to steer clear of Harris crouching behind square, getting off the mark with a single. A wicket and a run off another sharp Cummins over. 

Most runs in a calendar year in international cricket:

2833 - Ricky Ponting, 2005

2818 - Virat Kohli, 2017

2813 - Kumar Sangakkara, 2014

2735 - VIRAT KOHLI, 2018*

2692 - Kane Williamson, 2015

Would you believe it? Pat Cummins has 4 wickets in 19 balls. For 2 runs. Not even sure what's happening here. 

Pat Cummins on a hat-trick. Rohit Sharma the man on strike. Catching midwicket in place with an FSL. 

OUT! It's Cummins weaving a web around the Indian batsmen down the leg side, as Rahane nudges the ball to get caught-behind while attempting a short-arm pull! This is turning out to be a spell-from-hell from Cummins, who now has four wickets to his credit for just two runs! IND 32/4

Rahane c Paine b Cummins 1(2)

After 16 overs,India 32/3 ( Mayank Agarwal 18 , Ajinkya Rahane 1)

Rahane walks to the crease, with India a little wary right now after three quick wickets (though not a major cause to worry, given their lead). Singles collected off the first two balls. Agarwal tucks the ball down to fine leg for a brace off the last delivery. 

Mirror image dismissal to Pujara's... Pat Cummins has something to smile about for the time being. 

Kohli gone too. Loud jeers from the crowd, atleast the Australian section. Not sure what's happening here though. India are 28-3 after not enforcing follow-on. 

Indian players with a century and a duck in the same Test in Australia:

Vinoo Mankand, MCG, 1948

Sunil Gavaskar, MCG, 1977

Cheteshwar Pujara, MCG, 2018*

After 15 overs,India 28/3 ( Mayank Agarwal 15 , )

Cummins continues from the other end, this time with Pujara, the first innings centurion, on strike. And he lasts a total of two deliveries, flicking straight into the hands of backward square-leg off the second delivery that he faces to depart for a duck. Drinks brought to the field after the dismissal, with skipper Virat Kohli walking to the striker's end after that, and is dismissed four balls later in a manner that's identical to that of Pujara. Double wicket-maiden for Cummins, who's been outstanding so far in the match. 

OUT! A near-identical dismissal to that of Pujara, as Kohli holes out to Harris at backward square-leg while trying to fend a back-of-length delivery from Cummins. he departs for a four-ball duck! IND 28/3

Kohli c Harris b Cummins 0(4)

Two quick wickets for India. Vihari out to a snorter again. If anything this opening ploy has told the world that he has a short ball problem. Go figure! 

Pujara out quickly too. But he did his job in the first innings. India will be wary of a collapse! 

Drinks brought to the field after Pujara's dismissal. 

OUT! Pujara couldn't have had a more contrasting display with the bat in the second innings, as he flicks straight to backward square-leg to depart for a two-ball duck! IND 28/2

Pujara c Harris b Cummins 0(2)

After 14 overs,India 28/1 ( Mayank Agarwal 15 , Cheteshwar Pujara 0)

Agarwal goes for a drive, but gets a thick inside-edge instead. Maiden over to Lyon. Cheteshwar Pujara, the new batsman at the crease, yet to face a delivery.

After 13 overs,India 28/1 ( Mayank Agarwal 15 , )

Cummins continues from the other end. Fires a 140 kmph bouncer at Vihari off the fourth delivery, which the batsman has no option but to duck. Cummins strikes off the last ball, using the short ball once again to good effect as Vihari lobs the ball over to Khawaja at second slip while trying to fend the well-directed short ball. Wicket-maiden for Cummins, who has been outstanding with the ball so far in the match.

OUT! Cummins removes Vihari with a well-directed short delivery, as the latter gloves this to Khawaja standing at the slip region! IND 28/1

Vihari c Khawaja b Cummins. 13(45)

After 12 overs,India 28/0 ( Hanuma Vihari 13 , Mayank Agarwal 15)

Agarwal leans forward and chips the ball towards mid-on, where it lands safely, with cries of "CAAAATCH" coming along the way. Single to Vihari off the next delivery. Two off the over. 

Change of end for Lyon. He will have a lot more scuffed-up area to conjure up some magic with from here. 

After 11 overs,India 26/0 ( Hanuma Vihari 12 , Mayank Agarwal 14)

Cummins, who stood out among the Aussie bowlers in India's first innings with hard-earned wickets, replaces Lyon in the attack. Singles collected off each of the first two deliveries. Dots off the next four balls. 

Lot of debate ongoing about the non follow-on. Perhaps the worst hit are Australian bowlers. They bowled for two days. Then had rest for less than two sessions, considering they had to bat as well. India have held all the aces in this Test. They are now batting just to tire them out further. Australia might have to play five bowlers in Sydney as well. 

Pat Cummins brought into the attack in place of Nathan Lyon. 

After 10 overs,India 24/0 ( Hanuma Vihari 11 , Mayank Agarwal 13)

Vihari works the ball towards the backward square-leg fence off the second delivery for a single. Just one off the over. 10 overs done in the Indian innings so far. They have another hour to bat today. 

After 9 overs,India 23/0 ( Hanuma Vihari 10 , Mayank Agarwal 13)

Agarwal shuffles down the track and lofts Lyon over mid on for a one-bounce four, stamping his authority over the bowler on the occasion. Dot balls collected off the remaining deliveries of the over. 

FOUR! Agarwal shuffles down the track to get to the pitch of the ball, and smacks it over mid on for a one-bounce four! IND 23/0

After 8 overs,India 19/0 ( Hanuma Vihari 10 , Mayank Agarwal 9)

Vihari defends away at the deliveries angling into him as Hazlewood continues from the other end, collecting his first maiden this innings. 

After 7 overs,India 19/0 ( Hanuma Vihari 10 , Mayank Agarwal 9)

Appeal for caught-behind against Vihari off Lyon's very first ball of the innings, with umpire Erasmus maintaining a poker face. Vihari collects a single of the next delivery. Four dots follow. 

Nathan Lyon brought into the attack in the seventh over. The hosts will be hoping he's able to utilise the rough like Jadeja did. 

After 6 overs,India 18/0 ( Hanuma Vihari 9 , Mayank Agarwal 9)

Vihari defends or leaves for the first five deliveries, before nudging one behind square towards the leg side for a single off the last delivery of the over. 

After 5 overs,India 17/0 ( Hanuma Vihari 8 , Mayank Agarwal 9)

Vihari works the ball towards the square-leg boundary, coming back for a third run in the end. Agarwal nudges a back-of-length delivery towards fine leg two deliveries later for another boundary. Seven off the over. 

FOUR! Another boundary to Agarwal, who nudges a back-of-length delivery from Starc towards fine leg. IND 17/0