Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin batted out the entire evening session on day five to eke out a memorable draw against Australia in third Test in Sydney on Monday.
Vihari (23 not out off 161) and Ashwin (39 not out off 128), who got together in the 89th over of India's second innings, wore down Australia by batting for more than 42 overs. India ended up with 334 for five in 131 overs.
Also read: Vihari, Ashwin partnership would make Rahul Dravid proud
Starting the day at 98 for two and needing 309 for victory, Cheteshwar Pujara (77 off 205) and Rishabh Pant (97 off 118) kept the fight going for India with a 148-run stand after losing skipper Ajinkya Rahane (4) early.
Vihari, who was limping for major part of his innings due to a hamstring injury, and Ashwin kept the Australians at bay with a marathon match-saving effort. The duo batted for 42.4 overs.
The series remains tied at 1-1 going into the fourth and final Test, beginning at the Gabba on January 15.
Brief scores: Australia 338 and 312/6 decl India 244 and (target 407) 334/5 in 131 overs (Cheteshwar Pujara 77, Rishabh Pant 97, Hanuma Vihari 28 no, R Ashwin 39 no; Josh Hazlewood 2/33, Nathan Lyon 2/114).
Scoreboard
Australia 1st Innings: 338
India 1st Innings: 244
Australia 2nd Innings: 312/6 decl
India 2nd Innings: Rohit Sharma c Starc b Cummins 52 Shubman Gill c Paine b Hazlewood 31 Cheteshwar Pujara b Hazlewood 77 Ajinkya Rahane c Wade b Lyon 4 Rishabh Pant (wk) c Cummins b Lyon 97 Hanuma Vihari not out 23 Ravichandran Ashwin not out 39 Extras (lb 3, w 2, nb 6) 11 Total (5 wickets, 131 overs) 334
Fall of Wickets: 1-71, 2-92, 3-102 71-1, 250-4, 272-5 Bowling: Mitchell Starc 22-6-66-0, Josh Hazlewood 26-12-72-1, Pat Cummins 26-6-72-1, Nathan Lyon 46-17-114-2, Cameron Green 7-0-31-0, Marnus Labuschagne 4-2-9-0.
