In an eventful morning session of the fifth day of the third Test at the SCG, the highlight was Pant taking on the Australian off-spinner after being watchful against him first up. Pant walked in shortly after Lyon had Ajinkya Rahane caught at short leg. He was watchful off the first two balls, defending the off breaks right under his eyes.

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Off the third delivery, which came in Lyon’s next over, Pant nicked one to the keeper, but Paine couldn’t hold onto the chance and the Indian gloveman had an early life.

Watch the video here:

Paine pulling off a Pant, infront of Pant

Talk about direct troll🤭🤭🤣🤣#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/tJFUm6pTXu

— ⚡Ashwin⚡ (@ak10_amelia) January 10, 2021

Off his first 21 balls against Lyon, Pant made just three runs. But off the next nine balls, he smashed the off-spinner for 19 and raced towards a fantastic half-century. He had smashed Lyon for three sixes by then and had twice taken the off-spinner out of the attack.

Lyon returned from the other end and off the first ball, forced another edge from Pant. The Indian middle-order batsman moved forward to defend, but the additional turn saw him nick to Paine behind the stumps. However, as luck would have it, Paine dropped him again.

Watch the second dropped chance here:

A life for Rishabh Pant – Tim Paine puts the catch down #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Q226NrnuZe

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 11, 2021