Pujara,RahanegiveTeam India edge
CONTROL The duo shared an unbeaten 93run stand, the highest of the series, giving the hosts a 126run lead after Rahul struck a fifty
Cheteshwar Pujara and KL Rahul struck half-centuries as India fought back superbly in the third Test against Australia. India were in a soup following the setback of skipper Virat Kohli’s fourth cheap dismissal in a row in the series.
Rahul made 51 to follow up on his first-innings 90, his third half-century of the series, but Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood struck three quick blows to leave the hosts in danger of another batting collapse.
However, Pujara dug in to score an unbeaten 79 and shared an unbroken 93-run fifth wicket partnership with Ajinkya Rahane (40 batting) as India reached 213 for four at stumps, not losing a wicket in the entire evening session at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
India touched the 200-run mark for the first time in the series. It gave them a crucial lead of 126 runs, which had looked unlikely after Rahul, Virat Kohli (15) and Ravindra Jadeja (2), promoted to No 5, all fell in quick succession.
Left-arm spinner Jadeja had led India’s bowling fightback in the morning, grabbing his second best career figures of 6/63 by running through the Australian tail. He claimed the last three wickets in the space of 10 deliveries.Australia were 276 all out midway through the session as India restricted their first innings lead to 87 runs, their bowlers completing the job after giving away little during an intense second day’s play.
Pujara initially struggled against Nathan Lyon, the Aussie off-spinner who captured eight for 50 to dismiss India for 189 in their first innings.
However, with Rahul (51, 106m, 85b, 4x4) again looking untroubled and rotating the strike at the other end, Pujara settled down.
Pujara was dropped by skipper Steven Smith at slip off Lyon, and he continued to have close shave many times as the offspinner got some of the deliveries to bounce or turn extra.
However, the confidence grew as the partnership progressed with even Rahane, scrutinised for his weakness against spin on Indian pitches, settling down to give Pujara company. The remarkable fightback didn’t look like it would materialise after Hazlewood reduced them to 120/4 close to tea.
And the major talking point again was the cheap dismissal of skipper Virat Kohli, who was out for 12 in the first innings, was beaten by a Hazlewood delivery that kept low and was given LBW.
Kohli straightaway reviewed it. Several replays didn’t confirm whether he had got a bottom edge on to the pad, which meant it was left to the umpire to stick with his original decision. His promotion of Jadaja didn’t succeed as well.