Goswami, Vastrakar put India in command ahead of final day

SCORECARD

On day three, India declared their innings on 377/8 with the assistance of Deepti's 66 off 167 balls at the beginning of the second session. Australia battled for 60 overs, however, struggled with forming a partnership in the middle with wickets lost at consistent intervals. Ellyse Perry (27*) and Ashleigh Gardner (13*) took Australia to stumps at 143/4 with 234 runs behind.

India kicked off the moving day with Deepti and Taniya Bhatia at the crease to extend their total of 276/5. The pair ground their way past the 300-mark and stitched a 45-run stand in 170 balls.

Bhatia (22) was the first wicket to fall. She became Stella Campbell's maiden Test wicket after an edge carried straight into Alyssa Healy's gloves.

Pooja Vastrakar joined Deepti to hammer India's total across the daunting 350 milepost. In course of the 40-run partnership, Deepti registered yet another fifty in back-to-back Tests - her second in three innings.

Perry scalped her memorable 300th international wicket with the dismissal of Vastrakar for 13 on the brink of Dinner. India's run-rate dipped in the second session as they managed to add 83 runs in 40.4 overs at just 2.05 per over.

In the over immediately after dinner, Campbell returned to pick up her second wicket of Deepti who was looking firm in her guard - trapped leg before wicket for 66. The visitors declared their innings on 377/8, asking Australia to bat under lights in the final session.

India were provided with the early thrust from veteran Jhulan Goswami who looked to carry her form from the ODI series. Goswami sent Beth Mooney packing on 14 after she snapped her stumps with a masterful in-swinger.

Healy alongside captain Meg Lanning led the coup to recover Australia's start with a 49-run partnership in 96 balls. Goswami, however, returned to bowl her second spell and got Healy out with the ball nipping away for 29.

India got themselves in a strong position heading into stumps with two more wickets in the final session after batters Meg Lanning and Tahlia McGrath got starts but couldn't capitalise.

Vastrakar snared the two wickets. Lanning was dismissed leg-before for a well-made 38 while McGrath slashed hard at the ball delivered outside-off only to find Smriti Mandhana at point.