India on Sunday lost openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill at the twilight of Day 4 of the ongoing third Test against Australia while chasing a target of 407 runs at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG)

At the end of fourth day’s play, the tourists reached 98/2 – having lost the wickets of Sharma (52) and Gill (31) – with stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane (4) and Cheteshwar Pujara (9) at the crease. India still need 309 runs to take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the ongoing four-match series Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.

Earlier on Sunday, Australia had declared their second innings at 312/6, riding on brilliant half centuries from Cameron Green, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne.

Australia skipper decided to walk back to the dressing room as umpires called the end of the second session after Cameron Green, who scored 84, got out. He was caught behind by substitute wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha against Jasprit Bumrah.

Green and Paine shared a 104-run partnership off just 116 balls. Paine remained unbeaten at 39.

Resuming the day at 103/2, overnight batsmen Labuschagne (73) and Smith added 35 before the former was caught behind by substitute wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, down the leg-side off the bowling of Navdeep Saini. Matthew Wade (4) followed soon after as he edged one off Saini also to Saha.

Smith and Green saw Australia off to the end of the first session with no further damage, adding 34.

Resuming the post-lunch session at 182/4, Smith and Green collected runs at a brisk pace and scored boundaries at will, thus adding pressure on the Indian bowlers. Smith (81), however, missed out on his second century of the match as he got out lbw against off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for the third time in the series.

Chasing a mammoth target, Sharma and Gill once again provided India with a good start as the duo added 71-runs for the opening wicket. Both the batters collected runs at a brisk pace.

However, just when things seemed to be under control for the Indian team, Gill got out to a peach of a delivery from Josh Hazlewood in the 23rd over as he was caught behind.

Cheteshwar Pujara, who came in next, survived some nervy moments in the initial stage of his innings. Criticised heavily for his slow batting in the first innings, Pujara continued to bat in the same manner and shared a 21-run partnership with Sharma, who after reaching the 50-run milestone, fell prey to a bouncer bowled by Pat Cummins. Trying to hit a maximum, the 32-year-old was caught at fine-leg boundary by Mitchell Starc and thus, provided a big boost to the hosts.

Pujara (9*) and skipper Ajinkya Rahane (4*) then made sure India didn’t lose any further wicket till the end of the day’s play.

Australia had made 338 in the first innings and bowled India out for 244 in theirs.

Brief scores: India 244 and 98/2 at Stumps on Day 4 (Rohit Sharma 52, Shubman Gill 31; Josh Hazlewood 1/11), Australia 338 and 312/6 decl (Cameron Green 84, Steve Smith 81; Navdeep Saini 2/54)

With IANS inputs