SYDNEY: Irrepressible Cheteshwar Pujara stroked his third century of the series on Thursday to put India in a commanding position in the decisive fourth and ultimate Test Thursday as they attempt for a historic series win in Australia.
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At stumps on day one, they had been 303 for 4 with the rock-like number 3 now not out 130 and Hanuma Vihari on 39. Mayank Agarwal made 77 with Josh Hazlewood the most efficient of the bowlers with 2-51.
After toiling on a hot Sydney day, Australia had been rewarded with the wickets of KL Rahul, Agarwal, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, however regardless of a five-pronged assault the key scalp of Pujara remained elusive.
The visitors lead the series 2-1 after profitable the outlet conflict in Adelaide and the third one in Melbourne. Australia claimed victory in Perth.
If India, the arena's top-ranked nation, win or attract Sydney they'll clinch a first-ever series in Australia since they started traveling Down Under in 1947-48.
Kohli once more received the toss with Rahul again in the team to open with Agarwal and Vihari dropping to number six to hide for the unavailable Rohit Sharma.
Australia got an early breakthrough with Josh Hazlewood tempting Rahul into a defensive shot that took a outside edge and carried to Shaun Marsh in the beginning slip, and he was gone for nine.
But that handiest brought the stoic Pujara to the crease and like he has performed all series, the 68-Test veteran dug in and blunted the new ball.
He survived a assessment determination for stuck behind on 12, however in a different way gave a masterclass, disregarding two nasty hits to the shoulder.
In any other innings of endurance and concentration, he slowly picked off runs to convey up his 18th Test century from 199 balls, with 13 boundaries.
The methodical 30-year-old has been by means of some distance the most efficient batsman from each side across the series and his ton followed a stellar 123 in the first Test in Adelaide and 106 in the third Test at Melbourne.
Playing in handiest his second Test, the Bangalore-born Agarwal was also impressive.
He was targeted with bouncers and struck on the helmet however held company, reinforcing his credentials after a cast debut in Melbourne.
He worked laborious to make his second Test 50 in handiest 3 innings by means of caressing a Mitchell Starc supply in the course of the covers for 4.
But he started to open up with the bat and after hitting Nathan Lyon for 6 to convey up his absolute best Test ranking of 77, tried to do the same from the next supply and was stuck by means of Starc at long-on.
Master batsman Kohli was welcomed by means of boos from a piece of the group and right away silenced them with a fantastic 4 off Hazlewood.
But after a restrained 23 Hazlewood snared him in the first over after tea when a leg-side supply flicked off his glove to Tim Paine behind the stumps.
Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane looked good in making his approach to 18, however a Starc bouncer stuck him off guard and it too stuck his glove for Paine to take an overhead catch.
For Paine, it was the sixth toss he had lost in seven Tests and it will end up expensive on a Sydney Cricket Ground pitch expected to be conducive to spin because it wears.
When Australia bat, they'll have a new glance opening pair with Usman Khawaja padding up with Marcus Harris after the underperforming Aaron Finch was axed.
In a surprise throw of the dice, leg-spinning all-rounder Marnus Labuschagne was referred to as up and will come in at 3.
Mitch Marsh was also dropped with Peter Handscomb again to counter India's two spinners -- Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja.
SCORECARD | BLOG
At stumps on day one, they had been 303 for 4 with the rock-like number 3 now not out 130 and Hanuma Vihari on 39. Mayank Agarwal made 77 with Josh Hazlewood the most efficient of the bowlers with 2-51.
After toiling on a hot Sydney day, Australia had been rewarded with the wickets of KL Rahul, Agarwal, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, however regardless of a five-pronged assault the key scalp of Pujara remained elusive.
The visitors lead the series 2-1 after profitable the outlet conflict in Adelaide and the third one in Melbourne. Australia claimed victory in Perth.
If India, the arena's top-ranked nation, win or attract Sydney they'll clinch a first-ever series in Australia since they started traveling Down Under in 1947-48.
Kohli once more received the toss with Rahul again in the team to open with Agarwal and Vihari dropping to number six to hide for the unavailable Rohit Sharma.
Australia got an early breakthrough with Josh Hazlewood tempting Rahul into a defensive shot that took a outside edge and carried to Shaun Marsh in the beginning slip, and he was gone for nine.
But that handiest brought the stoic Pujara to the crease and like he has performed all series, the 68-Test veteran dug in and blunted the new ball.
He survived a assessment determination for stuck behind on 12, however in a different way gave a masterclass, disregarding two nasty hits to the shoulder.
In any other innings of endurance and concentration, he slowly picked off runs to convey up his 18th Test century from 199 balls, with 13 boundaries.
The methodical 30-year-old has been by means of some distance the most efficient batsman from each side across the series and his ton followed a stellar 123 in the first Test in Adelaide and 106 in the third Test at Melbourne.
Playing in handiest his second Test, the Bangalore-born Agarwal was also impressive.
He was targeted with bouncers and struck on the helmet however held company, reinforcing his credentials after a cast debut in Melbourne.
He worked laborious to make his second Test 50 in handiest 3 innings by means of caressing a Mitchell Starc supply in the course of the covers for 4.
But he started to open up with the bat and after hitting Nathan Lyon for 6 to convey up his absolute best Test ranking of 77, tried to do the same from the next supply and was stuck by means of Starc at long-on.
Master batsman Kohli was welcomed by means of boos from a piece of the group and right away silenced them with a fantastic 4 off Hazlewood.
But after a restrained 23 Hazlewood snared him in the first over after tea when a leg-side supply flicked off his glove to Tim Paine behind the stumps.
Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane looked good in making his approach to 18, however a Starc bouncer stuck him off guard and it too stuck his glove for Paine to take an overhead catch.
For Paine, it was the sixth toss he had lost in seven Tests and it will end up expensive on a Sydney Cricket Ground pitch expected to be conducive to spin because it wears.
When Australia bat, they'll have a new glance opening pair with Usman Khawaja padding up with Marcus Harris after the underperforming Aaron Finch was axed.
In a surprise throw of the dice, leg-spinning all-rounder Marnus Labuschagne was referred to as up and will come in at 3.
Mitch Marsh was also dropped with Peter Handscomb again to counter India's two spinners -- Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja.
Sydney Test: Indian wall Pujara scores 3rd ton to give India the advantage on Day 1
![Sydney Test: Indian wall Pujara scores 3rd ton to give India the advantage on Day 1]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
January 03, 2019
Rating:
