Rahul made his fifth Test fifty
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Opener Lokesh Rahul spearheaded India’s strong reply with a brilliant knock of 67 after Australia posted a first innings total of 451 on the second day of the third Test in Ranchi.
Starting off the day on 299/4, Australia captain Steve Smith and all-rounder Glenn Maxwell added 32 runs to the overnight score, during which Maxwell brought up his hundred.
However, he was dismissed soon after as he was caught behind off the bowling of Ravindra Jadeja for a career-best 104 off 185 balls, which included nine boundaries and two sixes.
Maxwell scored his maiden Test century
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Smith and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade kept the runs flowing with a 64-run partnership before Wade, who made 37, was also caught behind off the bowling of Jadeja.
Two balls later, Jadeja nabbed his third wicket of the day when he clean bowled Pat Cummins for a duck.
Smith and Steve O’Keefe settled things down with a 51-run stand before O’Keefe was removed by Umesh Yadav for 25.
India got another wicket the very next over as Jadeja sent Nathan Lyon packing for one run.
Australia ended up being bowled out for 451 when Josh Hazlewood was run out by Rahul for a duck.
With no more partners left, Smith remained stranded on 178 not out, which came off 361 balls and included 17 boundaries.
Smith’s unbeaten knock of 178 was the fifth-highest score by an overseas captain in India.
Smith’s knock was the third-highest score by an Australian batsman in India
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It was also the highest score by an Australian skipper in India as the previous record was Michael Clarke’s 130 in Chennai in February 2013.
Jadeja was the pick of the bowlers with five wickets, while Yadav snapped up three and Ravichandran Ashwin chipped in with one.
Jadeja finished with figures of 5-124 off 49.3 overs
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Trailing by 451 runs, India got off to a fantastic start as Rahul and Murali Vijay put together a 91-run partnership, during which Rahul brought up his half-century, before he was caught behind off the bowling of Cummins for 67, which came off 102 balls and included nine boundaries.
Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara ensured India didn’t lose another wicket as they amassed an unbeaten 29-run partnership before stumps was called.
Vijay finished on 42 off 112 balls, which included six boundaries, while Pujara remained undefeated on 10 off 26 deliveries, which included one boundary.
Cummins was the only bowler to take a wicket.
India ended day two on 120/1 and will continue batting on Saturday at 09:30 local time or 04:00 GMT.