Pujara, Saha take India to 435/6 against Aussies

Australia, on the other hand, would be hoping to get early wickets and restrict hosts to as low score as possible. He was at ease against the spinners, even lofting O’Keefe over long-on for a six while also playing the sweep shot with great success.

India resumed the day at 120/1 with Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara at the crease. But Vijay tried to go for a big one just before tea to be stumped for 82 with India going to lunch for 193/2.

Pacer Pat Cummins was the pick of the bowlers for the visitors as he picked up four crucial wickets, including that of India captain Virat Kohli, on Saturday. Vijay who was on 42 when stumps were called yesterday went on to complete his 50 with a single in the 50th over of the Indian innings. He reached 130 not out off as many as 328 balls, studded with 17 boundaries.

It all came in the face of remarkable resistance from Pujara, who was 10 not out with India 1-120 to start day three. Pujara remained firm and steady despite the psychological pressure building after Kohli’s departure. Smith, who had taken the catch, was still holding the ball and while embracing a teammate. Cummins got another wicket as Rahane departed for 14.

Australian Batsmen Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell powered their country to a huge total, batting first, Indian openers KL Rahul and Murali Vijay made sure India have a solid start.

The pair brought their 50-run stand in the 54th over.

Hazelwood did the trick in the 108th over as he bowled out Nair (23). The manner in which he got the strike of the ill-fated delivery had some drama in it. Jadeja took highest five wickets where Yadav took three wickets in the first innings for India. He mostly tried to defend facing Cummins and O’Keefe.

It was a welcome break for Australia who had been unsuccessful in a close lbw appeal against Pujara off O’Keefe and were unable to review a decision against Vijay who appeared to have edged one off Nathan Lyon on to his pads before being caught at short-leg. Ashwin scored 3 facing 22 deliveries. Despite a painful right index finger, the Saurashtra batsman carried on bravely, building useful partnerships along the way.

After a fractured foot ended spearhead Mitchell Starc’s India tour, the selectors took a gamble of sorts by plucking Cummins out of domestic cricket and planting him into the team for the third Test against India. Wriddhiman Saha was giving him company on 18 with India still 91 runs behind. Cummins and Josh Hazlewood bent their backs throughout an absorbing day in which wickets and runs were hard to come by.

Pujara used his feet well against the spinners and never allowed them to settle down on a wicket that aided some turn.