<p>Ajinkya Rahane stood tall amid the ruins in his comeback game as he showed remarkable skill and courage against a hostile Australian pace attack to take India to 260 for six at lunch on day three of the World Test Championship Final here on Friday.</p>.<p>India remained behind in the game despite the resilience of Rahane (89 batting off 122). Giving him much-needed support was Shardul Thakur (36 batting off 83), who survived two nasty blows on his forearm and was dropped twice.</p>.<p>India, who resumed the day at 151 for five in response to Australia's 469, need 10 runs to avoid the follow-on.</p>.<p>It was commendable that India managed to score 109 runs in 22 overs bowled in the session on Friday.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/greatest-off-spinning-waterboy-of-all-time-1226037.html" target="_blank">Greatest off-spinning waterboy of all time?</a></strong></p>.<p>The way Scott Boland and Pat Cummins got the ball to kick off the length in the first hour, once could sense a wicket off every ball.</p>.<p>Boland ripped through the defences of K S Bharat on the second ball of the day as the Indian wicketkeeper had no answer to a delivery that jagged back in sharply from length.</p>.<p>Cummins looked equally threatening from the other end and hit Thakur's forearm on back-to-back balls with extra bounce, requiring physio's intervention.</p>.<p>Like Thakur, Rahane too had luck going his way as he dropped by David Warner at first slip when he was on 72.</p>.<p>After getting a few streaky boundaries, Rahane got his fifty with a spectacular six off Cummins over a fine leg. The Australian skipper angled one into his body and Rahane made room to pull it for a maximum.</p>.<p>His best shot of the morning was a cover drive off Cameron Green and it came after a thick edge that flew over the slip cordon, showing that one had to take his chances on this wicket.</p>.<p>The final moments of the session were full of action. Rahane got consecutive fours off Nathon Lyon via a back-foot punch and a crisp drive through the cover.</p>.<p>The last over before lunch saw Thakur being adjudged lbw but it ended up being a no-ball from Cummins. The Aussie skipper had also overstepped after trapping Rahane in front of the stumps on day.</p>
<p>Ajinkya Rahane stood tall amid the ruins in his comeback game as he showed remarkable skill and courage against a hostile Australian pace attack to take India to 260 for six at lunch on day three of the World Test Championship Final here on Friday.</p>.<p>India remained behind in the game despite the resilience of Rahane (89 batting off 122). Giving him much-needed support was Shardul Thakur (36 batting off 83), who survived two nasty blows on his forearm and was dropped twice.</p>.<p>India, who resumed the day at 151 for five in response to Australia's 469, need 10 runs to avoid the follow-on.</p>.<p>It was commendable that India managed to score 109 runs in 22 overs bowled in the session on Friday.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/greatest-off-spinning-waterboy-of-all-time-1226037.html" target="_blank">Greatest off-spinning waterboy of all time?</a></strong></p>.<p>The way Scott Boland and Pat Cummins got the ball to kick off the length in the first hour, once could sense a wicket off every ball.</p>.<p>Boland ripped through the defences of K S Bharat on the second ball of the day as the Indian wicketkeeper had no answer to a delivery that jagged back in sharply from length.</p>.<p>Cummins looked equally threatening from the other end and hit Thakur's forearm on back-to-back balls with extra bounce, requiring physio's intervention.</p>.<p>Like Thakur, Rahane too had luck going his way as he dropped by David Warner at first slip when he was on 72.</p>.<p>After getting a few streaky boundaries, Rahane got his fifty with a spectacular six off Cummins over a fine leg. The Australian skipper angled one into his body and Rahane made room to pull it for a maximum.</p>.<p>His best shot of the morning was a cover drive off Cameron Green and it came after a thick edge that flew over the slip cordon, showing that one had to take his chances on this wicket.</p>.<p>The final moments of the session were full of action. Rahane got consecutive fours off Nathon Lyon via a back-foot punch and a crisp drive through the cover.</p>.<p>The last over before lunch saw Thakur being adjudged lbw but it ended up being a no-ball from Cummins. The Aussie skipper had also overstepped after trapping Rahane in front of the stumps on day.</p>