Pujara, Saha give India crucial lead over Australia
India's batsman Cheteshwar Pujara watches the ball after playing a shot during their fourth day of the third Test match against Australia at The Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) Stadium Complex in Ranchi on March 19, 2017. PHOTO | SAJJAD HUSSAIN |
What you need to know:
- Cheteshwar Pujara and Wriddhiman Saha frustrated Australia's bowlers with a marathon stand and earned India a crucial first-innings lead in the third Test on Sunday.
- After the pair had batted through two sessions on day four in Ranchi without losing a wicket, India were 503 for six at tea, 52 ahead of Australia. Pujara was on 190 and Saha on 99.
- The pair neutered Australia's bowling attack as they extended their partnership to 175 after India resumed the day on 360 for six.
RANCHI
Cheteshwar Pujara and Wriddhiman Saha frustrated Australia's bowlers with a marathon stand and earned India a crucial first-innings lead in the third Test on Sunday.
After the pair had batted through two sessions on day four in Ranchi without losing a wicket, India were 503 for six at tea, 52 ahead of Australia. Pujara was on 190 and Saha on 99.
The pair neutered Australia's bowling attack as they extended their partnership to 175 after India resumed the day on 360 for six.
Pujara, who started the day on 130, hit 20 boundaries amid an otherwise sedate knock at India's newest Test venue.
Saha, who recorded his fifth Test fifty, hit seven fours and a six to close in on what could be his third century.
However both batsmen benefited from the decision review system after successfully overturning lbw calls in the morning session.
Saha was on 19 and Pujara on 157 when the ball tracking technology revealed their respective deliveries would have missed leg stump.
Earlier in the day Saha and fast bowler Josh Hazlewood exchanged words at the end of an over before umpire Ian Gould quickly stepped in to caution the players.
Pat Cummins has claimed four wickets so far while fellow paceman Hazlewood and left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe have taken one each.
The four-match series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is tied 1-1.
