2nd Test: Pujara, Rahane raise India's hopes; hosts lead by 126 runs

Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane's unbeaten 93-run partnership and KL Rahul's fifty propels India to 213 for 4 in their second innings vs Australia at stumps on Day 3 of the second Test at Bangalore

Cheteshwar Pujara raises his bat after scoring 50 runs during the third day of the second cricket Test match between India and Australia at The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on March 6, 2017. Pic/AFP

Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane's unbeaten partnership and KL Rahul's fifty propels India to 213 for 4 in their second innings vs Australia at stumps on Day 3 of the second Test at Bangalore on Monday.

The wicketless third session helped India get a sizeable second innings lead at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. At stumps, Pujara (79 not out) and Rahane (40 not out) were at the crease, with an undefeated fifth wicket stand of 93 runs. Opener Lokesh Rahul contributed with a handsome 51 up the order.

With triple centurion Karun Nair and wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha still to come, India can go back to the team hotel a little more confident than on Day 2.

Indian batsmen gave a far better account of themselves to keep the hosts afloat on another captivating day as they erased a first innings deficit of 87..

The side is now looking good to post a fighting score for the visitors on a crumbling surface.

Australia had scored 276 in their first innings with left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja returning with best figures of 6 for 63 among the bowlers. 

Pujara showed admirable temperament and was helped by flamboyant opener Lokesh Rahul's (51) second half-century of the match.

The unbroken 93-run fifth-wicket partnership between Pujara and Rahane could prove to be a defining one.

This was also the first time in the series that India managed to pull through a session without losing any wicket.

Pujara played 173 balls to hit six boundaries while Rahane also consumed 105 balls to hit three boundaries.

Lot of credit should be given to Rahul, who played both pacers and spinners well during his 85-ball knock that had four boundaries.

It took an absolute blinder from Australian skipper Steve Smith at first slip to remove Rahul, who also completed 1000 Test runs in his career.

Rahane, on his part, is playing one of the most crucial knocks of his career under pressure, displaying good technique and sound temperament needed in this scenario.

The duo had come to the crease when India were 120 for 4 with only a 33-run lead and six wickets in hand.

With three successive innings being a saga of middle and lower-order collapse, Pujara and Rahane showed a judicious blend of caution and aggression in their strokeplay. Knowing fully well that defending on this track would be out of question, both the batsmen kept the scoreboard ticking with a fair amount of singles and doubles.

Importantly, both played the spin duo of Nathan Lyon (0/69 in 27 overs) and Steve O'Keefe (1/28 in 16 overs) well.
Lyon again got turn and bounce but the strategy to wait for the off-break to turn helped them negate his threat.

For a change, they didn't play O'Keefe for the turn and that helped them negotiate the left-armer better.

For Australia, Josh Hazlewood (3/57 in 16 overs) was the pick of the bowlers. He cleaned up Abhinav Mukund (16) and Ravindra Jadeja (2), who was sent up the order to prop up the scoring.

KL Rahul. Pic/ AFP

Earlier, Virat Kohli failed once again as India lost four wickets to slump to 122 for four at tea on the third day. Kohli was dismissed for 15 from 25 ball in a contentious decision to the stunning silence of the big home supporters at the stadium.

Field umpire Nigel Long gave Kohli out LBW off Josh Hazlewood five over before tea break and Kohli, who gestured that the ball hit his bat first, took DRS immediately. After a long review, TV Umpire Richard Kettleborough said there was no conclusive evidence to rule it's bat first or pad first and ruled in favour of field umpire's decision.

A furious-looking Kohli left the ground, showing his displeasure but with the lost of the crucial wicket, India's chances in the Test took a beating. Kohli had scored 0 and 13 in the two innings of the first Test and 12 in the first innings of this Test.

Just before tea break, Ravindra Jadeja, who was promoted up the order, was dismissed by Hazlewood for 2 after facing 12 balls as Australia took honours in the the post-lunch session. India are now just 35 runs ahead with six second innings wickets remaining.

India had begun their second innings on a positive note with runs coming at a good pace and opener Lokesh Rahul hitting a 85-ball 51 with the help of four boundaries while one-down Cheteshwar Pujara showing signs of playing a much-needed big innings.

At the break, Pujara was batting on 34 from 75 balls while Ajinkya Rahane was giving him company on 2. Pujara was lucky to have been dropped while batting on four by Steven Smith at slips off Nathan Lyon's delivery. Hazlewood led the Australian attack, bagging three wickets for 37 runs and Steve O'Keefe claimed one wicket for 15 runs.

After scoring 38 for no loss at lunch, India lost their first wicket on the fourth ball of the second session when Hazlewood cleaned up Abhinav Mukund after he had put on 39 runs from 64 balls with Rahul for opening wicket.

Ravindra Jadeja. Pic/ PTI

Unlike his first innings, Mukund showed glimpses of confidence, even as he smashed a boundary and a six off Mitchell Starc. When he departed, the Indian opener had scored 16 runs off 32 balls compared to his zero in first innings.

Rahul, who has been one of the better performers of the Indian side this series, smashed a delightful 51 runs off 85 balls with four boundaries.

The Indian opener, who top-scored in the first innings with a determined 90, was scalped by Steven O'Keefe with Steve Smith taking a stunning diving catch to his right at slips, immediately after drinks break. Rahul departed after a 45-run stand for the second wicket with Pujara.

In an interesting move, Jadeja walked into the field after the departure of Kohli. Jadeja could not justify the promotion as he managed to score just two runs before he was dismissed by Hazlewood.

Earlier, left-arm spinner Jadeja grabbed three wickets in 10 balls to polish off the Australian tail as India bowled out the visitors for 276 in their first innings.

Jadeja removed wicketkeeper Matthew Wade (40), Nathan Lyon (0) and Josh Hazlewood (1) in quick succession after off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Mitchell Starc as the first wicket of the third morning session. Australia took a crucial first innings lead of 87 runs on an unpredictable pitch.

The visitors took to the field today with a desire to consolidate on their overnight score of 237 for six, but could add only 39 runs in 16.4 overs while losing four wickets. After the departure of Starc, Australia lost their remaining three wickets for just seven runs in 4.4 overs with Jadeja claiming all of them.

At one stage, Jadeja was on a hat-trick after he removed Wade and Lyon in consecutive deliveries of his fourth over of the day. But Hazlewood denied him the feat as the Australian took a single with a defensive push.

Jadeja though had the last laugh as he removed Hazlewood in his next over as the batsman attempted a big swipe, only to end up skying it to long-on for Lokesh Rahul to take the catch. Jadeja ended with innings figures of 6 for 63 in 21.4 overs.

Before Jadeja ran through the Australian tail, Ashwin picked up the first wicket of the day by sending back Mitchell Starc for 26. Starc was holed out in the deep with Jadeja taking the catch. Ashwin ended with innings figures of 2 for 84 from 49 overs.

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