Pant, Pujara make merry as India extend control

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Australia ended the day at 24/0, 598 runs adrift of the India total, with Usman Khawaja (5) and Marcus Harris (19) holding fort.

India began Friday, 4 January, on 303/4 with Pujara and Hanuma Vihari at the crease, with the duo having already added 75 runs for the fifth wicket. Vihari, however, could add just three runs to his overnight total of 39 as Nathan Lyon gave Australia an early breakthrough.

Pant and Pujara then settled down to frustrate Australia throughout the morning session. Their 89-run stand saw India cross the 400-run mark.

Pujara, who was dropped by Khawaja at 192, seemed primed to get his third double century in Test cricket. However, the No.3 fell just one run later, scooping one back to Lyon for a soft dismissal. Pujara made the long walk back to the pavilion, but not before the entire SCG rose in admiration of his immense effort.

Ravindra Jadeja and Pant then collaborated for the highest partnership of the series. The two left-handers remained assertive through the innings, adding 204 runs in just 230 deliveries.

Jadeja slammed seven boundaries and a six to notch up a 114-ball 81, playing the perfect second fiddle to Pant, who raced away to his highest Test score of 159*. This is the second three-figure score of the youngster's nascent international career.

It was after Jadeja's dismissal – he was bowled by Lyon – that skipper Virat Kohli called his batsmen back to give his bowlers a crack at the Australia openers before stumps.

India had a golden chance in the third over, when a peach of a delivery from Mohammed Shami caught the edge of Khawaja's willow. Pant, however, could not add to his heroics of day, dropping the catch despite making a timely dive to his right.