India vs Australia third Test: Pujara, Saha put hosts in commanding position, declare innings at 603/9

Pujara and Saha put on 199 runs for the seventh wicket as Australia bowlers tried all that they can to restrict India.
India's Cheteshwar Pujara, left, and Wriddhiman Saha run between the wickets during the fourth day of their third test cricket match against Australia in Ranchi. | AP
India's Cheteshwar Pujara, left, and Wriddhiman Saha run between the wickets during the fourth day of their third test cricket match against Australia in Ranchi. | AP

RANCHI: From a position of bother at stumps on Day 3, India ended Day 4 in a dominant position as Cheteshwar Pujara's 202 and Wriddhiman Saha's 117, followed by an unbeaten 54 from Ravindra Jadeja helped them to a mammoth total of 603/9 in the third Test here. Australia, who were trailing by 152 runs, had eight overs to bat in the final session and that was enough time for Jadeja to take the wickets of David Warner and nightwatchman Nathan Lyon as the visitors ended the day at 23/2.

Resuming at the overnight total of 360/6, Pujara and Saha kept the visitors at bay as they searched for a wicket right through first two sessions.The duo put on 199 runs for the seventh wicket as Australia bowlers tried all that they can to restrict India.

Pujara, who faced 525 balls, now holds the record for the most balls faced by an Indian in Test cricket history as he went past Rahul Dravid's 495 that came against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in 2004. Showing immense levels of concentration, the Saurashtra-born player remained in his usual elements of occupying the crease for long and patiently waiting for the loose balls. He brought up his second double century against Australia in the post lunch session and showed rare signs of emotion. During the knock, he also became the third Indian to score over 2000 runs in a single first-class season.

If Pujara was solid, Saha was not far away. However, unlike Pujara, he kept rotating the strike, keeping the scorers busy though the day. The two were however helped by DRS on four occasions. Saha had a decision overturned as early as second over of the day, bowled by Pat Cummins. In the second session alone he had two going in his favour as the Aussies tried desperately to dislodge the pair. Using the feet against spinners, Saha never allowed Nathan Lyon and Steve O'Keefe to settle into a rhythm as he completed his third Test century off the first ball in the third session.

Though the Aussies were happy to see off the duo, Jadeja added more agony, as he stretched India's lead en route to his fifty. Cummins was Australia's most successful bowler with figures of 4/106. O'Keefe, who bowled 77 overs, had 3/199.
 

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