IND vs AUS 3rd Test Day 1 Stumps: Mayank, Pujara fifties keep India on driver seat

Debutant Mayank Agarwal provided the base with a confident half-century before Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Puyara steered India to a solid 215 for two on day one of the third Test against Australia, here Wednesday.

Overcoming the losses of Mayank Agarwal and Hanuma Vihari, the duo of Cheteshwar Pujara and skipper Virat Kohli left no stone unturned in frustrating the Aussie bowlers in the 3^rd session. The duo scored 92 runs more in before the stumps, amassing 215 runs on the board at a loss of 2 wickets. Where Pujara remained unbeaten on 68, Kohli was batting on 47 and 3 runs away from his 20^th test fifty.

The third session turned out to be extremely frustrating for the hosts as both the batters showed no mercy on the opponent bowlers. Especially, Nathan Lyon, who may have had taken 16 wickets so far in the series but leaked 59 runs in 21 overs, most by any of the five bowlers.

Mayank’s dismissal brought Kohli at the crease and thus, began the hardship of the Australians as they badly toiled for a wicket thereafter. Meanwhile, Pujara brought up his 21^st Test fifty off 152 deliveries. It’s his 2^nd fifty in this tour after the 71-run knock he played in the second innings of the Adelaide Test.

The duo batted till the day end and has added 92 runs for the 3^rd wicket so far.

Earlier, India lost just the wicket of Mayank Agarwal (76) in the second session of play, while Cheteshwar Pujara was batting on 33 when the break was taken. The visitors added 66 runs in the afternoon session, thanks to a crucial 83-run partnership between Mayank and Pujara.

The day began with Indian skipper Virat Kohli winning the toss and opting to bat first. India made a steady start reaching 57/1 at lunch on the opening day of the third Test on Boxing Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) here on Wednesday.

Vihari took 25 balls and 33 minutes to score his first run as he batted with patience, which was lacking in previous opening partnerships in the first two Tests.

He was hit on the helmet in the 13th over off Cummins as Australia started bowling short and attacking the batsmen more. The makeshift-opener shrugged it off and went on to face 66 balls, the second highest for an Indian opener in five innings this series.

Cummins got him off a sharp rising delivery in the 19th over, as Vihari took his eyes off the ball and gloved it to Aaron Finch in the slip region. The Australian pacers continued to test the Indian batsmen with sharp bouncers at every opportunity possible.