Jasprit Bumrah injury, Steve Smith drop catch leave Border-Gavaskar Trophy poised for thrilling end

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is poised for a thrilling finish following a day of high drama as Australia’s man of moment, Steve Smith, shelled a crucial late chance. RE-LIVE ALL THE ACTION

Steve Smith dropped a critical late catch to leave the Border-Gavaskar Trophy hanging on a knife’s edge on Saturday night amid uncertainty around the status of winged Indian trump card Jasprit Bumrah.

Pat Cummins had earlier made another crucial intervention while Scott Boland enhanced his legend to leave Australia within sight of a drought-breaking series win over India.

The tourists were 6-141 in their second innings at stumps on day two, leading by 145. The Aussies have not beaten India in a Test series for 10 years.

INJURY UPDATE: India dealt devastating Jasprit Bumrah blow as series goes on the line

Years of sedate Sydney snorefests have been cast aside with the decisive series finale racing towards a finish inside three days on a green and bouncy SCG wicket.

Australia’s quest to end a decade of disappointment could hinge on the fitness of Bumrah whose ability to bowl in the fourth innings remains unclear.

“He had back spasms, had gone for scans,” said Indian paceman Prasidh Krishna on Saturday night.

“The medical team is monitoring.”

In the day’s penultimate over, Smith spilled a chance from Ravindra Jadeja via an edge from Beau Webster, with Smith moving across from second slip to an opportunity that seemed on track for Usman Khawaja at first slip.

With a draw effectively out of the question, day three shapes as a winner-takes-all contest.

“I think legacy conversations are for others, externally. We’re here to win a series. Would we get great satisfaction out of winning a series against India? There’s no doubt about that,” Australian coach Andrew McDonald said when asked of the potential significance of what could transpire on Sunday.

McDonald said the Aussies could draw on the experience of stirring run chases to win Tests in Birmingham and Christchurch over the past 19 months.

Steve Smith (R) apologies for grassing a crucial catch late on day two. Picture: David Gray/AFP

“Every situation, every game is different. Scenario, the surfaces, all that type of thing. But I think if you’ve been there and done it before, then you take confidence in that, being able to navigate those scenarios, in particular the lower order which potentially may be called upon tomorrow.”

Forced to bowl again at the end of a long series and after less than a day’s break, the Aussies deferred to the indomitable Boland who ran through India’s top order and sealed Virat Kohli’s fate as the Victorian’s bunny in what shapes as the superstar’s final Test innings on these shores.

Defying the conditions and the Boland masterclass, India’s flamethrower Rishabh Pant reverted to type, blasting a tiring Mitchell Starc and Webster en route to a 29-ball half-century, the second-fastest ever from an Indian in Test cricket - second only to his own effort against Sri Lanka three years ago.

But as has so often been the case, captain Cummins rose to the occasion, with Pant miscuing a cut to be snaffled behind by Alex Carey for 61 from 33 balls.

According to CricViz, it was the 51st time Cummins had broken a stand of 50 runs or more in Test cricket.

In a dominant position heading into day two despite the loss of Khawaja with the final ball on Friday, Australia was unable to take anything like full toll despite the prolonged absence of Bumrah, who left the field and in turn the stadium shortly after lunch.

Yet the Aussies still trailed after their first innings, bowled out for 181 as India’s seamers shared the wickets, almost all of which via catches behind the wicket.

Debutant Webster provided by far the most resistance, posting a critical 57 that ensured the Aussies edged towards parity.

Scott Boland ripped through India’s top order on day two. Picture: David Gray/AFP

Smith had looked assured for his 33 but fell to an edge off Krishna just before lunch, leaving the former Australian captain five runs short of the 10,000 milestone in Test cricket.

Yashasvi Jaiswal cracked 16 runs from Starc in the first over of India’s second innings as the distinct possibility emerged that the match and trophy would quickly slip from Australia’s grasp.

But Boland would not be denied, bowling KL Rahul (13) and Jaiswal (22) before dismissing Kohli (six) for the fourth time this series and fifth time overall in Test cricket as the ex-India skipper went fishing outside off for the umpteenth time this series.

Webster picked up his first Test wicket as Shubman Gill (13) went charging down the track, inside edging to Carey who did well to jag the catch.

Boland jagged another when Nitish Kumar Reddy (four) popped a catch to Cummins at mid-off.

Underscoring the seam dominance on this pitch, Australia did not employ Nathan Lyon with the ball at all on Saturday.

Re-live every key moment in our blog below