Australia vs India 3rd Test Day 2: Pujara, Kohli, Rohit keep India on top in Melbourne

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Cheteshwar Pujara 106 Australia India Boxing Day Test 3rd Test Day 2 Melbourne cricket

Cheteshwar Pujara celebrates after scoring his 17th Test century

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Cheteshwar Pujara, captain Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma scored 106, 82 and 63 not out respectively to keep India in control against Australia on the second day in Melbourne.

Starting off the day on 215/2, Pujara and Kohli converted their 92-run partnership into a 170-run stand before Kohli was caught by Aaron Finch at third man off the bowling of Mitchell Starc for 82, which came off 204 balls and included nine boundaries.

Pujara went on to score 106, which came off 319 deliveries and included 10 boundaries, before he was clean bowled by Pat Cummins.

Rohit and Ainkya Rahane stabilised the innings with a 62-run partnership before Rahane was trapped lbw off the bowling of Nathan Lyon for 34.

Rohit and Rishabh Pant kept the runs flowing with a 76-run stand, during which Rohit brought up his fifty, before Pant was caught by Usman Khawaja at gully off the bowling of Starc for 39.

Ravindra Jadeja was removed soon after, upon where Kohli decided to declare with his side on 443/7.

Rohit was left unbeaten on a 114-ball 63, which included five boundaries.

Cummins was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Starc snapped up two, and Lyon and Josh Hazlewood chipped in with one wicket apiece.

Trailing by 443 runs, Marcus Harris and Finch put together an unbeaten eight-run partnership in six overs before stumps was called.

Harris finished on five, while Finch remained undefeated on three.

Australia ended day two on 8/0 and will continue batting on Friday at 10:30 local time or 23:30 GMT (the previous day).

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