AUSvsIND, SCG Test: Decoding interesting stats of this historic match
India scripted an emphatic turnaround on Day 5 of the third Test against Australia at the SCG. Hanuma Vihari (23*) and Ravichandran Ashwin (39*) remained unbeaten as the visitors managed to draw the Test eventually. Earlier, Rishabh Pant (97) and Cheteshwar Pujara (77) brought India back in the hunt, while chasing 407. We take a look at the interesting stats of this match.
After Pant and Pujara departed, the likes of Vihari and Ashwin took the mantle, staying till end. The duo shared a 62-run stand, that lasted over three hours. Interestingly, Vihari and Ashwin faced 256 balls in their unbeaten partnership, the most by an Indian sixth-wicket pair Down Under. Their historic stand comprised of 11 fours, 2 doubles and 14 singles.
India batted 131 overs and scored 334/5 in the fourth innings before the game ended in a draw. This is the most number of overs India have batted in the fourth innings of a Test since 1980 (vs Pakistan, Delhi). The last team that batted out 100+ overs (4th innings) to save a Test Down Under was South Africa in Adelaide (148 overs, 2012/13).
This was the eighth time that India batted out 100+ overs in the 4th innings to save a Test. They have played out their joint-fourth-most overs after 150.5 vs Eng (1979), 136.0 vs WI (1948/49), 132.0 vs WI (1958/59), 131.0 vs Pak (1979/80).
Considering Ravindra Jadeja's injury, Ashwin came out to bat at number five during the run-chase. He remained resilient throughout the innings, having projected a sturdy technique. He ended up scoring 39 (128), the fifth-most balls played by a number seven batsman for India in the 4th innings. The other four are Dhoni (159), Pant (146), Mongia (135) and Kirmani (133).
Pant's 97 off 118 balls on the final day was a knock to remember for ages. Although he couldn't complete what could have been a historic hundred, he certainly helped India make a turnaround. Notably, this has become the highest fourth-innings (individual) score by an Indian wicket-keeper in a drawn Test. He is followed by Dhoni (76*) on the tally.
Pant now has the most consecutive 25+ scores (10) by a visiting batsman Down Under. In the first innings, he eclipsed the record of Viv Richards, Wally Hammond and Rusi Surti. His Test scores in Australia read as - 25, 28, 36, 30, 39, 33, 159*, 29, 36 and 97.
