Marnus Labuschagne, the top run-scorer in the series so far, was given a life very early on by Hanuma Vihari on day four at the SCG in the third Test of the series.

India had a deflating day in the field on day three with Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja copping blows and the latter being ruled out of the entire series. Australia, with Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne at the crease, were right on top, leading by nearly 200 runs.

An early breakthrough was what India needed on day four to lift the morale and bring themselves back into the game. Jasprit Bumrah nearly gave them just that off the second ball of the day when he had Labuschagne playing into the leg-side trap laid for him.

India have had a fielder at leg gully or backward square leg for Labuschagne through the series and on this occasion, Bumrah hit the perfect length and gained extra bounce to force an error off Australia’s No.3 batsman.

Labuschagne’s glance off the hips went straight to Hanuma Vihari, stationed at backward square leg. The Indian fielder got both his hands to the ball and held on before letting it go while completing the catch. A distraught Bumrah was seen hiding his face with his palms in frustration.

Watch the moment here:

Second ball of the day and Labuschagne gets a life!

Live #AUSvIND: https://t.co/KwwZDwbdzO pic.twitter.com/1arOlWgBjf

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 9, 2021