A dogged Cheteshwar Pujara remained unbeaten as Australia took two wickets to pile pressure on India who were trailing by 158 after the ope...
A dogged Cheteshwar Pujara remained unbeaten as Australia took two wickets to pile pressure on India who were trailing by 158 after the opening session of day three in the third Test on Saturday.
On a fine day in front of a small socially distanced crowd at the Sydney Cricket Ground, India resumed on 96 for two in reply to Australia’s first innings 338, built on the back of a Steve Smith century.
By lunch, they had moved to 180 for four with Pujara facing 144 balls for his 42. Rishabh Pant was not out 29, accelerating the scoring to leave the match in the balance.
They lost captain Ajinkya Rahane for 22, bowled by Pat Cummins, and Hanuma Vihari, who was sensationally run out by Josh Hazlewood for four.
It was mostly slow-going for India, pinned down by Australia’s bowlers, who offered little respite as they consistently hit line and length.
A cautious Pujara began on nine and Rahane two after Hazlewood and Cummins dismissed openers Rohit Sharma (26) and Shubman Gill (50) in the final session on Friday.
They began defensively, managing just five runs from the first five overs.
Rahane, who scored a century in the last Test at Melbourne, had an escape on 16, with a Nathan Lyon delivery ballooning...
