Melbourne: The redoubtable Cheteshwar Pujara (106, 319b, 10×4) produced yet another classy hundred combining with skipper Virat Kohli (82, 204b, 9×4) to put India in command on the second day of the third Test against Australia here Thursday.
Besides, Pujara and Kohli, Rohit Sharma (63 n o, 114b, 5×4) notched up his 33rd Test fifty while Rishabh Pant (39) and Ajinkya Rahane (34) also got some runs under their belt as India declared their first innings 443/7 before Australia responded with eight without loss in six overs. Marcus Harris (5 batting) and Aaron Finch (3 batting) are currently at the crease.
This was Pujara’s second ton of the series (he scored 123 in the first Test) as he whipped a Nathan Lyon (1/110) delivery towards long-off for a boundary to bring up his 17th Test hundred. Kohli who scored a century in the last game also surpassed Rahul Dravid (1137) for most number of runs in a calendar year in overseas Tests.
Resuming on overnight score of 215/2, it was a splendid batting effort by the Indians as the visitors showed patience in the first two sessions, which ultimately left them in an assured position at close. The hosts were also undone by some of the fielding errors all of the bowling of Lyon what proved to be a frustrating 48 overs from him.
It was treat to watch both Pujara and Kohli bat together as the duo played some mesmerizing shots all round the park. The Pujara-Kohli pair put up 170 runs for the third wicket before both the batsmen fell in quick successions off the bowling of Pat Cummins (3/72) and Mitchell Starc (2/87) to leave India at 299/4.
Thereafter, Rahane and Rohit, who is back in the Test squad after a gap of 11 months consolidated the innings putting up 62 runs for the fifth wicket. Though Rahane fell after a promising start, Rohit along with Pant took India to a healthy position before declaring.
The four-match series is pegged at 1-1, after India won the first Test in Adelaide by 31 runs and Australia took the second Test in Perth by 146 runs.
Brief scores: India 443/7 decl (Cheteshwar Pujara 106, Virat Kohli 82, Rohit Sharma 63 n o; Pat Cummins 3/72, Mitchell Starc 2/87); Australia 8/0. Match to continue.