3rd Test: Pujara's defiance takes India to 360/6 at stumps vs Australia

Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara raises his bat after completing his century during 3rd day of 3rd Test against Australia in Ranchi Pic PTIRanchiCenturion Cheteshwar Pujaras marathon effort helped India whittle down the lead to 91 runs as the hosts reached 3606 at stumps on day three of the third cricket Test against Australia here on SaturdayPujara 130 not out and wicketkeeperbatsman Wriddhiman Saha 18 not out went undefeated after adding 32 runs for the seventh wicket when the umpires dislodged the bails for the day at the Jharkhand State Cricket Association Stadium hereIndia lost the crucial wickets of Karun Nair 23 and Ravichandran Ashwin 3 in the final session with pacer Pat Cummins emerging the wreckerinchief taking four for 59Captain Virat Kohli however failed to deliver once again as he was out for 6 in postlunch session today Kohli who went off the field on the first day due to an injury and did not field the whole of second day yesterday had scored 0 13 12 15 in the four innings of the earlier two Tests India still trail Australia by 148 runs with six first innings wickets in hand Australia had made 451Overnight 10 after India resumed on 120 for 1 Pujara soaked the pressure and built his innings beautifully A classical cover drive against Pat Cummins brought up his hundred from 214 ballsReturning to action after a freak shoulder injury on day one Kohli 6 from 23 balls had a testing 37minute vigil at the crease before being dismissed in a soft manner by Cummins immediately after the new ball was taken in the 81st overCummins prised out key wickets of Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane 14 en route to his 349 as Indians threw their wickets cheaply on a flat track of JSCA International Stadium Complex hosting its maiden Test Kohli never looked his usual self and took his time in an uncharacteristic slow innings as Australian spinners bowled in tandem to the Indian skipper Leftarm spinner Steve OKeefe attacked Kohli on the roughs outside the leg hoping to get a leading edgeAustralia took the second new ball immediately after 80 overs and Cummins earned them the most prized wicket of Kohli Yet to get into his rhythm Kohli went for an expansive drive outside the offstump as the ball flew to second slip where Steve Smith held on to the catch at shoulder height and the Australian camp jumped in joyRahane looked to give Pujara a perfect support as the duo completed a third 50plus partnership of the match But immediately after that Rahane lost his patience and tried for an uppercut to nick one to the wicketkeeperPujara however remained unperturbed and showing patience and discipline he went on to notch up his second hundred against the Australians and first one by an Indian in this ongoing seriesHe made clever use of his feet against the spinners and never allowed them to settle down on a wicket that aided some turn while he was extremely choosy against the likes of Cummins and Josh HazlewoodPujara brought up his fifty off 155 balls with two exquisite boundaries on both sides of the wicket a flick off the wrist and then stepped out to drive OKeefeFirst he put on 102 runs for the second wicket with Murali Vijay 82 from 183 balls 10x4 1x6 as the duo almost saw through the first session before the opener was stumped by OKeefe at the stroke of lunchThe centuryplus partnership with Vijay was their sixth in 10 Tests this home season as they built a solid platform before Australia finally got the first breakthroughPujara however looked rock solid barring some anxious moments early on He survived while on 22 as he tried to play a forward defence only to be trapped in front Australia went for their second and last remaining review but it was turned down by umpire Chris GaffaneyLuckily for Pujara he had some inside edge though replays did not confirm whether it was bat or pad first and he survived The Australians thus ran out of the two reviews permitted in 80 oversIn the very next ball Vijay on 58 had a clear inside edge which was taken at short leg but umpire Ian Gould appeared to have overlooked it Having exhausted their two DRS quota Australia could not ask for anotherAustralia had their first unsuccessful review in the 39th over when their call for batpad against Vijay was turned down yesterdayCheteshwar Pujara century third test India vs Australia Cricket Sports