ZCZC
BSP-01
CRICKET-AUS-IND
Pujara holds firm as Australia pile pressure on India
SYDNEY, Jan 9, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – 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 to Matthew Wade at short leg,
who could only get his fingertips on the ball as he leapt backwards.
The skipper then whacked Lyon for a big six before his new-found
aggression cost him his wicket, chopping a Cummins ball onto his stumps in
the next over.
Pujara continued what he does best at the other end, grinding out singles
while occasionally opening his bat, smacking two boundaries off one Lyon
over.
Vihari, who has struggled for runs, got four on the board before
needlessly throwing away his wicket, coming down the pitch for a single off
Lyon that wasn’t there.
Hazlewood brilliantly reacted, diving to his right and throwing the ball
onto the stumps in one movement to end Vihari’s short stay.
That brought the exuberant Pant to the crease and he began attacking the
bowlers, building a 38-run partnership with Pujara.
BSS/AFP/SSS/0841 hrs