Indian top-order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara played a blistering centurion knock of 130* runs to put India in a commanding position on Day One of the ongoing fourth and final Test against Australia here at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday.
Indian top-order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara played a blistering centurion knock of 130* runs to put India in a commanding position on Day One of the ongoing fourth and final Test against Australia here at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday.
India vs Australia, 4th Test: Live scores & full commentary
Opting to bat first, India managed a total of 303 runs at a loss of four wickets by the end of Day One of the fourth Test.
Leading 2-1 after the 137-run win in the Melbourne Test, India made a strong start by ending at 303/4 in 90 overs on Thursday. Opener Mayank Agarwal was another solid performer, continuing his good form with a 77-run knock.
At stumps, Pujara (130) and Hanuma Vihari (39) were holding fort for the visiting side, which is in pursuit of a maiden Test series triumph on Australian soil. Virat Kohli's men have already secured the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with their unassailable lead.
Follow live updates & scores of Day 2:
1. Before the start of play on Day 2
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"And he waits - @cheteshwar1 in all readiness before the start of Day 2," BCCI tweeted this picture before Pujara along with Hanuma Vihari took the field to resume India's innings on Day 2 of the fourth Test.
2. Pujara 2.0 continues
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Pujara has certainly carried his momentum from the opening day of this Sydney Test. After recording his 18th Test ton, he is closing in to 150. In his Test career so far, Pujara has three double hundreds and three 150s. PC: ANI
3. 150 for Che Pujara!
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Pujara has clearly carried from where he left off on Day 1. He brought his hundred yesterday with a boundary. Today, he brings up his 150 with a beautiful drive through extra-cover. Travis Head chases the ball, pulls it back before the ball hits his thigh and rolls back onto the ropes. It's Pujara's 7th 150+ score in Tests & 22nd in First-Class cricket. PC: Reuters
4. OUT, Lyon strikes!
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OUT! Nathan Lyon finally makes the much-required breakthrough for Australia as he breaks Pujara and Vihari's 101-run stand by dismissing the latter. Lyon bowls one close to his gloves, and as Vihari tries to sweep it, he gets a top-edge that flies straight to Labuschagne at the forward short leg. The fielder makes no mistake and umpire immediately raises his finger. Vihari asks for a review but replays show he has to go. PC: AFP
Vihari c Labuschagne b Lyon 42(96)
5. India take lunch at 389 for 5
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India's No. 3 man Pujara continued to pile on the runs, taking India to 389 for 5 at lunch on the Day 2 of the fourth and final Test against Australia. Pujara recorded his highest overseas score as he was batting on 181 not out while Rishabh Pant was unbeaten on 27 runs with the duo putting on 60 runs for the sixth wicket at the break. PC: AFP
6. Pujara goes for 193
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Pujara misses out on his fourth Test double as Nantah Lyon dismisses him. In the last few overs, he was looking a bit uncomfortable as the runs weren't coming easily. Hence, Pujara tries to do something different as he went down the track but the flight of the ball beat him and Pujara ends up giving a return catch to Lyon.
Meanwhile, Nathan Lyon becomes the second spinner after Muttiah Muralitharan to take 50-plus wickets against India at home in Tests. PC: AFP
7. 50 for Pant
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After all the failures to convert his starts into a big knock, Pant finally reaches his first fifty on the Aussie soils in a Test. Until now, it was his chattering being the talk of the town in the ongoing series, but Pant finally allows his bat to talk as well. Good knock, this. PC: BCCI
India are 453/6 (Overs139)
8. 150 for Rishabh Pant!
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Wow, Pant has turned tables here. From chattering to glory behind the wickets, he has batted to glory on Day two in the fourth Test at the SCG. He becomes the first Asian wicketkeeper to score a Test century in Australia. His first century came last year in England so he also becomes the first Indian wicketkeeper-batsman to have centuries in both England and Australia.
Pant registers his highest Test score and what a venue to do so - Sydney, Australia.
9. India declare at 622 for 7
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After Nathan Lyon denies Pujara his fourth Test double ton, he repeats it and this time it was Ravindra Jadeja on the receiving end. The all-rounder was looking good, going after the exhausted Aussie bowlers before Lyon rattles his stumps off. Jadeja misses out on a second Test hundred by 19 runs.
As soon that dismissal happened, Virat Kohli signals declaration. India end their first innings at 622 for seven after tea.
10. Pant DROPS a catch
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DROPPED!
Pant was on the cloud 9 after his second Test ton but suffers a bummer with the gloves early in the next innings. Shami gets an edge in the very third over, Khawaja was still on zero but Pant drops it. He dives in front of Pujara, first slip, gets his hands on it but ends up spilling that one. The camera immediately pans on Captain Kohli who doesn't seem very happy. But since Pant is just coming off a brilliant unbeaten 159, Kohli will let that one mistake go.
Australia 21/0, trial India by 601 runs
11. That's STUMPS!
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Aussie openers Usman Khawaja and Marcus Harris make it through to stumps, but the day belonged to India once again. First, it was Che Pujara who stole the show with his highest overseas score of 193 and then young Rishabh Pant became the first Asian wicketkeeper-batsman to score a Test century in Australia. He was well supported by all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who contributed with a healthy total of 81, as the two together tired off the Aussie bowling like no one's business. PC: AFP
Australia 24/0, trail India by 598 runs.
