Pujara ton bright spot for India

ADELAIDE: Cheteshwar Pujara struck a defiant century in an Adelaide Oval furnace to rescue India after Australia’s pacemen threatened to dominate day one of the seriesopening test yesterday.

The India No 3 battled a hamstring strain late in the day but was a rock even as his partners crumbled around him, pushing India to 250 for nine at the close with a brutal assault on the second new ball.

Unbroken by dogged and often fierce pace bowling, Pujara was dismissed for 123 by a piece of brilliant fielding when paceman Pat Cummins swooped in to throw down the stumps.

That was the last play on a day of scorching heat, leaving tailender Mohammed Shami on six.

Pujara’s 16th test century saved India after a disastrous start that resulted in it slumping to 86 for five after lunch, falling to a combination of dreadful shotmaking and quality Australian pace after captain Virat Kohli won the toss.

‘‘To be honest, we should have batted better but they also bowled well in those first two sessions,’’ Pujara said.

‘‘I can’t rate it but it was one of [my] best [centuries].

Five of India’s top six were out to loose shots, including captain Kohli, who fell for three to a stunning onehanded catch in the gully by a leaping Usman Khawaja.

Seamer Josh Hazlewood grabbed two wickets in the morning session, removing Ajinkya Rahane for 13 and the outofform Lokesh Rahul for two

‘‘For the most part we were exceptional with the ball today,’’ Starc said.

‘‘If you said we’d be 250 for nine after losing the toss . . . I think we’d bite your arm off.’’ — Reuters