RANCHI – Inspired by the five-wicket haul by Ravindra Jadeja, which helped India wrap Australia for 451 runs, the hosts started well on the second day of the third Test at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi on Friday.
At stumps, Murali Vijay (42*) and Cheteshwar Pujara (10*) were batting as India reach 120/1, trailing the Aussies by 331 runs with nine wickets in hand.
It was opener KL Rahul, who gave India a confident start scoring a quick fire 67 runs that included nine boundaries.
For Australia, comeback man Pat Cummins earned the breakthrough when he broke the 91-run opening partnership stand.
Australia’s first innings, however, exhibited passionate batting by skipper Steve Smith and all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, who smashed 178 (not out) and 104 runs respectively to lead the visitor’s charge. With this, Smith became the first Aussie captain and fifth overseas captain to score a 150-plus knock in India.
Earlier West Indies’ Clive Lloyd and England’s Alastair Cook had done it thrice and twice respectively.
Indian bowling attack was largely dominated by the orthodox spinner Ravindra Jadeja, who claimed five wickets in his 50-over stretched bowling spell.
Indian spearhead Umesh Yadav took three big wickets, while off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Shaun Marsh (2) to join the party.-Online
