LIVE IND V AUS 3rd Test, Day 2: India makes strong start in reply to Australia's 451

LIVE SCORECARD

  Hundred comes up for India Cheteshwar Pujara comes in at number 3. Pat Cummins to Lokesh Rahul, OUT! Cummins strikes! Beautiful bowling. He bends his back and digs in a slower short ball, well-directed at the batsman, Rahul tries to fend it away but it catches his gloves and goes safely to Wade. He catches it, Cummins turns to appeal and the finger goes up. KL starts to walk and Smith is hugging his bowler. Pat has bowled his heart out and finally gets some reward. Interestingly, Wade was not appealing. Anyway, Australia get the first breakthrough. India trail by 360 runs. India: 91/0. Rahul 67, Vijay 23 Australia are hoping for a breakthrough but Rahul and Vijay till now have looked confident against the Aussie bowling attack. India: 76/0. Rahul 55, Vijay 21 India: 48/0. Rahul 39, Vijay 9 TEA on Day 2 India: 20/0. Rahul 18, Vijay 2 India: 1/0. Rahul 1, Vijay o

---

With 451 on board, Virat Kohli's men would have to put together a brilliant batting performance to make a statement. A good opening stand is very crucial. The batsmen have too little to rest and they have to be mentally strong and not lose a single wicket till tea. The visitors on the other side would want to take a wicket or two. Let's see who manages to prevail. India were made to toil for almost 138 overs but finally they have managed to bowl Australia out for 451. The hosts would be not too happy given that they had the visitors at 140/4 at one stage. But amidst the storm, Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell stood in India's way as they scored centuries. The former remained not out on 178. The pick of the bowlers for India was Ravindra Jadeja who bowled almost 50 overs and sent five Australian batsmen back to the hut. Australia all out for 451.  Ravindra Jadeja to Nathan Lyon, OUT! Fifer for Jadeja. He has been persistent throughout the day and he has got his rewards. Tossed up delivery outside off, Lyon prods forward to defend and he does. But it goes straight to Karun Nair at silly point who catches it easily. Umesh Yadav to Steve O'Keefe, OUT! Change of boots does the trick? Don't know but India would take the wickets in any manner. Short delivery, chest height, Steve O'Keefe swivels across and pulls it straight to Murali Vijay at fine leg who gets low to cup it. India break the frustrating partnership. Australia: 426/7. Smith 165, O'Keefe 14 Steven Smith continues to hold one end tightly and has crossed the 150-run mark. He has not been troubled even a single bit and is looking well set for a double hundred. However, he is quickly running out of partners. Australia already have 401 runs on the board and will look to add as many runs as possible in the next session. With the pitch starting to take spin, India will be concerned as Australia also have a couple of excellent spinners in their ranks. Join us in a short while for more action. Fabulous session for Australia! They once again scored in excess of 100 but lost three wickets as well. Glenn Maxwell was the first batsman to depart soon after reaching his maiden Test hundred and then after batting with positive intent, Matthew Wade also got out. Pat Cummins didn't last long and became the fourth victim of Ravindra Jadeja. The left-arm spinner was the best bowler on show for India as the rest struggled to leave any impact. Australia: 401/7. Smith 153* at Lunch on Day 2 Ravindra Jadeja to Pat Cummins, OUT! Right through the gate! The crowd erupts in joy as Sir Jadeja gets rid of another batsman. Bowls it flatter through the air and pitches it on middle and leg. Cummins gets forward to defend but it spins away, beats the outside edge and shatters the stumps. What a terrific delivery to the new batsman. Cummins falls for a duck. Ravindra Jadeja to Matthew Wade, OUT! Jadeja strikes again and he removes the dangerous looking Wade. Hurls a full ball outside off, 91 kph, turning in just a shade, Wade draws forward to defend, probably expecting it to turn a lot. But the ball skids through, take a faint outside edge and Saha grabs another sharp catch behind the stumps. End of a handy knock by the Australian wicketkeeper batsman. Australia: 341/5. Smith 134, Wade 1 Ravindra Jadeja to Glenn Maxwell, OUT! Jadeja strikes! He bowls it in the flatter trajectory around off and it spins away after kissing the turf, Maxwell goes back to punch it through the line but ends up getting a faint outside edge to Saha. He makes no mistake. Catches the ball and appeals. The finger goes up and Maxwell is already walking. End of an extraordinary knock and India will be relieved to break the 191-run stand. Jadeja is all pumped up. Maiden Test ton for Glenn Maxwell Australia: 299/4. Smith 117, Maxwell 82 It's time to play the game. Ajinkya Rahane is leading the team on the field, no signs of Virat Kohli. Pitch report - Another batting day awaits Australia, the pitch is still dry and will adhere to batsmen. There are patches, but there is still time before those come into play and spinners will endure another tough day. It still remains to be seen whether Virat Kohli, who injured himself yesterday, takes the ground. He was seen practicing today. Either ways, the Indian bowlers will have to prepare mentally with or without him. Can the hosts come back harder on day two or will the visitors continue their resistance? We will find out soon... Hello and welcome to the second day of the third Test between India and Australia. Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell have been thorns in India's flesh as they have shared a partnership that the hosts have found very hard to break. The hosts could feel that the pitch is hardly assisting the bowlers. But it is essential for them to make early breakthroughs, specially of Australian captain who is looking very dangerous. It still remains to be seen whether Virat Kohli, who injured himself yesterday, takes the ground. Either ways, the Indian bowlers will have to prepare mentally with or without him. Can the hosts come back harder on day two or will the visitors continue their resistance? We will find out soon... DAY 2, SESSION 1