The day two of the third Test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) proved to be India’s all the way as they painfully constructed a big score with Cheteshwar Pujara being the cornerstone of India’s innings.
India began the day at 215/2 and Pujara and Kohli continued their arduous partnership, which stretched to 170 runs for the 3rd wicket. Pujara meanwhile brought up his second century of the series in 280 balls. Kohli, on the other end, started to struggle with back pain, which hampered his stroke making and he was finally out, playing an uppercut to the third man off the bowling of Starc.
Kohli made 82 off 204 balls with 9 fours. Pujara was the next to go, with 106 to his name in 319 balls with 10 fours, falling to Cummins, who cleaned him up.
Rahane (34) and Rohit Sharma added 62 runs for the 5th wicket before he was out LBW to Lyon. Rishabh Pant joined Rohit Sharma, who hit 63* in 114 balls and scored 39 runs. Virat Kohli had enough when Jadeja was dismissed on the score of 443 runs and declared the innings.
For Australia, Pat Cummins picked 3/72 and Starc picked 2/87; as other piled on over after over as Indian innings lasted 169.4 overs.
Marcus Harris and Aaron Finch somehow managed not to give their wickets away in the 6 overs that were possible, during which Bumrah pinged Harris on his helmet, once again in the series.
The Indian declaration has set the match up beautifully, as the pitch is getting slower and lower and Australia will have to bat out of their skins to get some advantage on the first innings Indian score.
BRIEF SCORES:
IND 443/7d (C PUJARA 106, V Kohli 82; P CUMMINS 3/72) and AUS 8/0
Day 2: Australia trail by 435 runs with 10 wickets remaining in the innings
