Close menu

Australia v India: Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli cause Australia problems

Last updated on .From the section Cricketcomments144

Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli celebrate
Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli looked strong against the Australia bowlers
Third Test, Melbourne (day two)
Australia 8-0 (Harris 5, Finch 3)
India 443-7 dec (Pujara 106, Kohli 82, Agarwal 76, Cummins 3-72)
Scorecard

A 170-run stand between century-maker Cheteshwar Pujara and captain Virat Kohli ensured India dominated day two of the third Test in Australia.

The pair fell in quick succession soon after lunch to give the hosts a key breakthrough on a batting-friendly pitch in Melbourne.

India finally declared on 443-7 with seven overs remaining.

The pressure was on openers Marcus Harris and Aaron Finch but Australia made it to the close of play on 8-0.

Pujara and Kohli had come together when openers Hanuma Vihari and Mayank Agarwal fell on day one and continued to build a strong partnership.

Kohli, chasing a seventh hundred in Australia, was undone by Mitchell Starc on 82, while Pujara made 106 before being bowled by Pat Cummins.

The 30-year-old - who has scored more runs and faced more balls than any other batsman in the series - has now scored 17 Test centuries, including two in this series, which is tied at 1-1.

Rohit Sharma, who was dropped by substitute fielder Peter Siddle on 15, went on to complete his 10th Test half-century and was 63 not out when Kohli declared.

It was a nervy time for Harris and Finch and pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah struck Harris on the helmet with a short ball, but he was able to continue after lengthy treatment by medical staff.

Comments

Join the conversation

These comments are now closed.

144 comments

  • Comment posted by cornish granite, at 08:47 27 Dec 2018

    Grinding out a score at around 2 an over on a flat pitch under a hot sun.

    Boring?

    No. I'd rather watch that than the" wham bam thank you ma'am" slap and tickle 20 over nonsense.

    Sir Geoffrey would have approved.

    Looking forward to day three of a proper cricket match.

  • Comment posted by MH, at 08:30 27 Dec 2018

    This pitch is proof the world is flat...

  • Comment posted by Mr Nexus, at 09:05 27 Dec 2018

    Anyone who can stick it to the foul-mouthed, arrogant, cheating Aussies gets my support - well done India!

  • Comment posted by BSG, at 08:59 27 Dec 2018

    This series will be the best chance India have had in a long time to finally win a series in Australia. Don’t blow it India.

  • Comment posted by KSlater, at 12:02 27 Dec 2018

    I think it would be a mistake for the Aussies to recall Warner once he has served his ban. Warner is a fine player but his personality is anti cricket! Warner doesn’t understand that the game of cricket is about much more than just winning. He is an arrogant and ignorant fool and will never change. Warner you were given a wonderful opportunity and you chose to disrespect the game.

  • Comment posted by dier-1558, at 09:10 27 Dec 2018

    tempted to post on the latest Bancroft statement, but will let the lying dogs sleep. What another fine series India have been involved in. Whilst they lose more than they should, they bring everything to the Test table - a great advert for the long format of the game, that lives up to its name of being a Test match in every area of the game. India deserve a series win especially in B and Q land.

  • Comment posted by ovalball, at 08:46 27 Dec 2018

    time to get the sand paper out

  • Comment posted by ovalball, at 10:56 27 Dec 2018

    7.Lordleam

    3. ovalball

    very scratched record. Tedious advice.

    look mate don't blame me for the fact sand paper has had as biggerer roll to play in Australia cricket as Shane Warne screeming at umpires to get dodgy LBWs

    have a go at the player's who sat down and discussed

    THEN DECIDED TO CHEAT

    it might suit your agenda to try to forget but I don't think we should

  • Comment posted by Teddy M, at 15:57 27 Dec 2018

    Anyone who thinks Australia haven’t been cheating like this for years are, at best, naive, and at worst, moronic.

  • Comment posted by Avalon, at 11:41 27 Dec 2018

    @40, CP88, Every sports team is paid to win, they even have win bonus clauses in contracts.

    I don't think Warner is being scapegoated, but agree more of the team would have known about it, especially the bowlers who are handling the ball as they would see greater than normal wear.

    I have doubts as well about this being the 'first' time it sandpaper was used.

  • Comment posted by CP88, at 11:23 27 Dec 2018

    @33 I was watching the Cape Town match live and as soon as Bancroft was first shown on screen before the umpires spoke to him Lehmann was straight on the radio. He definitely knew. And the bowlers must have been aware.

    Warner had probably been doing this for ages with his ‘bandages’ but knew SA cameras were watching him closely so roped in Bancroft. We will never hear the real truth though.

  • Comment posted by RKP80, at 09:17 27 Dec 2018

    I love watching India play, where ever they go to the world they bring an atmosphere.

    Wonderful knock by the debutant Agarwal, the world can only look on at the conveyor belt of talent India has.

    Anyone who calls this test and series either boring or a yawn clearly knows very little about this format of the game. India and king Kohli respect all three formats especially test matches!

  • Comment posted by BluPheesh, at 16:03 27 Dec 2018

    Amazing how the Aussie bowlers aren't swinging it round corners anymore, isn't it?...

  • Comment posted by Silverback, at 09:41 27 Dec 2018

    Kohli is an amazing player - he copes with the sledging the crowd etc. He seems to thrive on it. Fancy India to win the series with this test firstly, more so now after today 👏👏👏

  • Comment posted by DolbyD, at 10:07 27 Dec 2018

    Absolute road.....Kohli should have batted out the day and some of tomorrow.....Not enough runs IMO for an innings lead.

    On saying that, I think Australia are a long way off the pace at present. JL will want to ensure he installs a positive and encouraging dressing room culture. Warner surely can not be part of that. Move on and develop youngsters in cricket - not cheats.

  • Comment posted by Joseph, at 12:43 27 Dec 2018

    Well I don’t think in the ball tampering incident I don’t believe only 3 Aussies on the pitch knew about it. But they used them to shield the rest of the team and they can come back for the wc and ashes. So it wasn’t too much of a punishment for them. Australia were clever in the way the handled it

  • Comment posted by CP88, at 11:30 27 Dec 2018

    I also find it funny how Smith gave a story of being told in 2016 how they were paid to win as a reason to at the least turn a blind eye to cheating in 2018.

    In no way do I believe that the first time they tried this they were caught nor do I think the whole team wasn’t aware. Warner may be an unlikeable person, but he’s been scapegoated a bit to spare the blushes of the rest of the squad.

  • Comment posted by bmxkid, at 09:49 27 Dec 2018

    We’ll need the sandpaper for the second innings boys she’s an absolute road!

  • Comment posted by Avalon, at 11:14 27 Dec 2018

    @23. CP88, I agree with on your assessment, of the 3 only I only rate Smith as being genuine class, I never understood why he didn't put the kybosh on the plan when he heard it as he must have known it was illegal.

    I also feel that Lehmann knew more and had more input into the plan than hes been credited with.

  • Comment posted by simonk, at 09:48 27 Dec 2018

    Lovely to see the Aussies toiling again. Can’t even compete with all their cheating.

Top Stories

Also in Sport

Elsewhere on the BBC

Cricket on the BBC