Sydney: Cheteshwar Pujara (130 batting, 250b, 16×4) played the anchor’s role yet again with his third masterful hundred of the series, helping India dominate Australia on the opening day of the fourth and final Test here.
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 Thursday. Opener Mayank Agarwal (77, 112b, 7×4, 2×6) was another solid performer, continuing his good form with his second half century in three innings.
At stumps, Pujara and Hanuma Vihari (39 batting, 58b, 5×4) were holding fort for the visitors, who are in pursuit of a maiden Test series triumph on Australian soil.
At the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Pujara added 75 runs for the unbeaten fifth wicket stand with Vihari. Post tea, Australia were able to make a quick breakthrough as Virat Kohli (23) was caught down leg off Josh Hazlewood (2/51).
It brought Ajinkya Rahane (18) to the crease, who faced the same tactic. He also couldn’t do much before Mitchell Starc (1/75) had him with a sharp-rising unplayable bouncer.
Vihari proved to be a handy partner for Pujara who celebrated his 18th Test hundred. In doing so, he went past 438 runs against England in 2012-13 as the most he had scored previously in a Test series.
Earlier, Pujara put on 54 runs with Kohli as India reached 177/2 at tea. Post lunch, Agarwal and Pujara continued their second-wicket partnership to 116 runs before Agarwal got out off Nathan Lyon (1/88).
Kohli then walked out to boos for the fourth Test running, which forced former Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting come out in support of the Indian captain later in the day.
In the morning, India were placed at 69/1 at lunch. This was after India won the toss and opted to bat. The visitors made two changes, with KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav coming in for Rohit Sharma and Ishant Sharma.
Paying respect
Sydney: The Indian cricketers Thursday wore black armbands on the opening day of the fourth and final Test against Australia as a mark of respect for Sachin Tendulkar’s coach Ramakant Achrekar who passed away Wednesday. Achrekar, the celebrated coach credited for discovering Tendulkar, died Wednesday in Mumbai due to old age-related ailments. He was 87.