- India lumped pressure back on Australia as they took a 533-run lead in Perth
- Ex-captain Virat Kohli impressed to bring up his first ton in 16 Test innings
- A nasty moment unfolded during the day as one steward was struck on the head
A security guard was struck in the head on Sunday afternoon at the Optus Stadium as India increased their lead on Australia.
On a dry and cracking Perth pitch, India lumped pressure back on Australia with Yashasvi Jaiswal hitting a huge score of 161 runs, while Virat Kohli put to bed doubts over his form, hitting his 30th Test century and ending a 16-innings wait to do so.
Jasprit Bumrah would declare after Kohli got his ton, with India taking a 533-run lead in the Test, after hitting a whopping second innings score of 487 for six wickets.
Despite Kohli’s brilliance with the bat, there was a nasty moment during this afternoon’s play where one of the 36-year-old’s sixes appeared to hit a security guard in the head.
Kohli had belted a delivery from Mitchell Starc over the boundary but the ball appeared to take a big bounce before hitting the unsuspecting security guard in the side of the head as he sat by the fence.
A steward was struck on the head by a cricket ball at the Optus Stadium on Sunday afternoon
The staff member immediately grabbed his head as a six from Virat Kohli struck him on the head
Immediate concerns arose among the players, with Nathan McSweeney and Nathan Lyon (second from left) speeding over to the boundary to check on the young stewa
The steward, who had been watching the crowd at the time, immediately reached up to his head after the ball had struck him.
Immediate concerns arose among the players, with Nathan McSweeney and Nathan Lyon speeding over to the boundary to check on the young steward.
The gentleman appeared to be OK, with Australian physio Nick Jones heading to the boundary to treat the staff member alongside another member of the steward’s team.
After being checked over by Jones, the injured steward walked off and was replaced by another steward on the boundary line.
‘Hopefully, the shock was the biggest factor,’ commentator Tim Lane said to Channel Seven.
‘It came from nowhere, he did not have his eye on the ball, he was keeping his eye on the crowd.’
Despite Australia’s brilliance in the field during the first innings, Pat Cummins’ fast bowlers struggled to pick off India’s batters.
Lyon was the pick of the Australian bowlers on Sunday and came agonisingly close to dismissing Kohli with a sensational ball that seemed to spin its way around the ex-India captain but careered over the wicket.
The steward appeared to be shaken by the incident before he stood up and walked off the pitch
Amid concerns over Kohli’s form, the ex-India captain stepped up to the crease and enjoyed an epic innings for the visitors
Australia captain Pat Cummins started to feel the pressure as India surpassed a 500 run lead on the hosts
It was a difficult day for Australia who were outclassed by Kohli and India on Day Three
Lyon though would go on to take the wickets of Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar.
But despite Australia’s best efforts, it was India’s day at the Optus Stadium.
KL Rahul racked up a very nice 77 off 176, before being dismissed by Mitchell Starc, while Devdutt Padikkal was removed for 25 by Josh Hazelwood.
Shadows began to encroach the wicket on the final hours of play on Sunday and talk began to shift to whether India would declare this afternoon or bat into Monday.
They would wait for Kohli to get his century, with the Indian batsman going into overdrive, smashing fours and sixes before reaching his target, before Nathan McSweeney and Usman Khawaja donning their pads and stepping out into the middle of the oval for the final 30 minutes of the day.