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Australia openers survive after Kohli, Pujara heroics post huge total
MELBOURNE, Dec 27, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – A 170-run stand between century-maker
Cheteshwar Pujara and captain Virat Kohli put India in a dominant position in
the third Test Thursday as Australia’s openers survived half a dozen nervy
overs before the close.
Dogged Pujara stroked 106 and Kohli 82 before they both fell soon after
lunch on what until then had been a lifeless Melbourne pitch.
Rohit Sharma was not out 63 after notching his 10th Test half-century when
Kohli called a halt to the innings late in the day at 443 for seven as India
go in search of a crucial 2-1 lead in the four-Test series.
That gave the tourists’ attack six overs before stumps to target
Australian openers Marcus Harris and Aaron Finch, who battled through to be
eight without loss.
“I think we have enough runs on the board. Already today you can see the
pitch has started deteriorating and there’s variable bounce on it. I don’t
think it’s easy to bat on now,” said Pujara.
“Our bowlers have been bowling well so I would say we have enough runs on
the board.”
Despite the ominous task ahead, Finch insisted Australia could still win.
“It’s still game on if we bat really well and then back up and bowl well
and put India under a lot of pressure,” he said.
“I think that absolutely all three results are still on the table 100
percent — India, Australia and a draw. It’s hard to say after two days with
the wicket deteriorating, but we are confident we can bat really big.”
– Stoic Pujara –
Pujara and Kohli had continued to build their intimidating partnership
after coming together when openers Hanuma Vihari and Mayank Agarwal fell on
day one.
They batted through to lunch with scarcely an alarming moment. But when
Kohli started to take on the short ball soon after being seen by the physio
for a back complaint in the afternoon session, he was undone by pace
spearhead Mitchell Starc.
The Indian run-machine had hit a four and was attempting another boundary
next ball when he uppercut to third man for Finch to take an easy catch.
It deprived Kohli of a 26th Test century and the chance to surpass boyhood
hero Sachin Tendulkar by making a seventh hundred in Australia. They remain
tied on six each.
A stoic Pujara had been unflappable in his 319-ball innings until Pat
Cummins sent down a rocket that stayed low, breached his defence and
clattered into the stumps.
Pujara, who has scored more runs and faced more balls than any other
batsman in the series, added 38 to his overnight 68 in another tremendous
knock by a man who has now scored 17 Test tons and two in this series.
It was an arduous day for Australia’s bowlers in hot conditions with
Cummins’ 3-72 proving the pick.
Sharma, back after missing the second Test with an injury, was in good
touch, but had a massive let-off on 15 when he swept a Nathan Lyon delivery
to square leg where substitute fielder Peter Siddle made a complete mess of a
simple catch.
Australia’s leading spinner finally got a reward in his next over,
trapping vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane lbw for 34 as the pitch started to show
signs of variable bounce which could spell trouble for the home batsmen.
Lyon had another chance spilled when Cummins fumbled an easy catch from
Rishabh Pant near the boundary. Pant finally fell for 39 and when Ravindra
Jadeja went soon after, Kohli made the declaration.
The flat track in Melbourne follows much livelier pitches in Adelaide and
Perth which produced results in the four-Test series which is on a knife-edge
at 1-1.
Last year’s Boxing Day Test saw a dull Ashes draw with England that
prompted the match referee to grade the pitch “poor” and there was hope for
more juice in it this time round.
Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts said the pitch would only
be fully judged after the Test finishes, but conceded “a sense of urgency in
the regeneration of this wicket square”.
BSS/AFP/BZC/1940HRS