Indian firestorm burns Aussies
PUJARA, PANT ONSLAUGHT HAS HOME SIDE WILTING IN SAVAGE HEAT
Amarathon century by Cheteshwar Pujara and a swashbuckling ton from Rishabh Pant all but ended Australia’s hopes of saving the series yesterday as India built a massive 622/7 declared in the final Sydney Test.
India began the second day at 303/4 and proceeded to twist the knife against a demoralised home team that toiled in hot conditions.
Unless Australia win, India will claim a first series victory Down Under since they began touring here in 1947/48. They lead 2-1.
Despite the tall task ahead, Australia skipper Tim Paine said they were not ready to throw in the towel.
“We certainly won’t be doing that, we will be fighting as hard as we can for the next three days. Cricket’s one of those games, if you keep doing that it can turn really quickly,” he said.
“But you’ve got to tip your cap to India. They have worked extremely hard for three-and-a-half Tests to get us to where they want us today.”
Pujara made a masterful 193 off 373 balls while Pant stroked his highest Test score in an entertaining 159 not out.
Ravindra Jadeja chipped in with a lively 81 in a 204-run stand with Pant – a record seventhwicket partnership here.
Skipper Virat Kohli finally declared when Jadeja was out, with the tireless Nathan Lyon taking 4/178 off 57.2 gruelling overs.
It left new-look Australian openers Marcus Harris (19) and Usman Khawaja (five) to negotiate 10 tricky overs before stumps. They ended on 24 without loss.
“Every hundred I score is spe- cial for me because I have just started my career. But I don’t really think about hundreds, I only think about what the team needs from me,” said Pant.
“Obviously when you bowl for two days the body gets tired, but their body language was really good.” Pujara started the day 130 not out and picked up where he left off.
He drove his second ball through the covers for three before once again dropping anchor, blocking and targeting only loose balls.
Throughout his knock, he hardly played a false stroke in a demonstration of “old-school” Test batting, soaking up the pressure and counter-attacking when he saw an opportunity.
Pujara brought up his 150 with a boundary and seemed destined for his fourth Test 200 before attempting to whip Lyon down the leg side. Instead, he lobbed the ball back into the spinner’s hands.
At the other end chirpy wicketkeeper-batsman Pant plundered only his second Test century.
The 21-year-old, in only his ninth Test, smashed eight boundaries in his ton and quickly passed his previous Test high of 114 against England last year.
Earlier, Hanuma Vihari added only three to his overnight 39 before he misjudged a sweep off Lyon and the ball feathered his glove, with Marnus Labuschagne taking the catch.