Indian batsmen made the Australian bowlers sweat, toil and struggle on an almost flat deck at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Day 2 of the third test match. The rock- Cheteshwar Pujara brought up 17th Test century, the second of this tour but captain Virat Kohli missed his 26th Test century by 18 runs. Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and Ajinkya Rahane accelerated as India declared at 443/7. Australia is 8/0 at stumps.
For Australia, Pat Cummins was the pick of the bowlers as he bagged three for 72, followed by Mitchell Starc’s figures of two for 87. Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon also chipped in with a wicket each.
Session 1:
Continuing on Day 1’s score of 215/2, Virat Kohli quickly brought up his half-century.
Virat Kohli doing his thing so far at the MCG…#AUSvIND | @Domaincomau pic.twitter.com/LXiFjgk24f
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 27, 2018
Cheteshwar brought up his 17th Test century in 280 balls. This was his slowest but one of the most important centuries he has scored.
Another Test ton for Pujara, this one coming off 280 balls! That's his 17th hundred in Test cricket. Superb: https://t.co/0glOblMnaq #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/fk0pYdogQP
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 27, 2018
India went into lunch at 277/2 with Pujara on 103* and Kohli on 69*. No wicket fell in the morning session.
That's lunch! Pujara (103*) and Kohli (69*) bat through the morning with India going to the break at 2-277: https://t.co/0glOblMnaq #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Rk4x3nYrON
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 27, 2018
Session 2:
170 run partnership was broken by Mitchell Stark. Kohli hit a rising delivery straight into the hands of Aaron Finch at third man and missed out on his 26th Test century. He made 82 with 9 smashing boundaries.
Gee the Aussies needed that! Virat Kohli gone for 82…#AUSvIND | @toyota_aus pic.twitter.com/7BHMbcZawn
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 27, 2018
Pujara too fell immediately. His 319 ball innings came to an end as a Pat Cummins delivery didn’t bounce and went straight onto the stumps. He made 106 runs with 10 brilliant boundaries.
At tea, India was at 346/4 with vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane on 30* and Rohit Sharma on 13*.
And, that will be Tea. #TeamIndia 346/4. Rahane on 30*, Rohit Sharma 13* after Kohli & Pujara scored 82 & 106 respectively #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/eQBzn9ep2S
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 27, 2018
Session 3:
Nathan Lyon caught Ajinkya Rahane plumb in front of the wickets. He made 34. Rishabh Pant then joined Rohit Sharma. The duo added quick runs. Pant made 39 while Rohit Sharma remained not out on 63 when captain Kohli declared the innings on 443/7.
At stumps on Day 2, Australia is 8/0, trailing by 435 runs. Marcus Harris and Aaron Finch are on 5* and 3* respectively.
Stumps on Day 2 of the 3rd Test.
Australia 8/0, trail #TeamIndia 443/7d by 435 runs
Scorecard – https://t.co/xZXZnUvzvk #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/gRuxXZS1NV
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 27, 2018
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