Cheteshwar Pujara century and Virat Kohli put India in dominant position against Australia in third Test

A 170-run stand between century-maker Cheteshwar Pujara and captain Virat Kohli put India in a dominant position in the third Test Thursday as Australia's openers survived half a dozen nervy overs before the close. Dogged Pujara stroked 106 and Kohli 82 before they both fell soon after lunch on what until then had been a lifeless Melbourne pitch. Rohit Sharma was not out 63 after notching his 10th Test half-century when Kohli called a halt to the innings late in the day at 443-7 as India go in search of a crucial 2-1 lead in the four-Test series. That gave the tourists' attack six overs before stumps to target Australian openers Marcus Harris and Aaron Finch, who battled through to be eight without loss. "I think we have enough runs on the board. Already today you can see the pitch has started deteriorating and there's variable bounce on it. I don't think it's easy to bat on now," Pujara said. "Our bowlers have been bowling well so I would say we have enough runs on the board." Despite the ominous task ahead, Finch insisted Australia could still win. "It's still game on if we bat really well and then back up and bowl well and put India under a lot of pressure," he said. "I think that absolutely all three results are still on the table 100 per cent - India, Australia and a draw. It's hard to say after two days with the wicket deteriorating, but we are confident we can bat really big." ______________ Read more: Cricket's hits and misses in 2018: Virat Kohli's mixed year Good, bad and ugly of cricket in 2018: UAE taking centre stage, Virat Kohli's behaviour and ball-tampering The Cricket Pod: Everest Premier League booming in Nepal, and India's Virat Kohli outshone in Perth Test ______________ Pujara and Kohli had continued to build their intimidating partnership after coming together when openers Hanuma Vihari and Mayank Agarwal fell on Day 1. They batted through to lunch with scarcely an alarming moment. But when Kohli started to take on the short ball soon after being seen by the physio for a back complaint in the afternoon session, he was undone by pace spearhead Mitchell Starc. The Indian run-machine had hit a four and was attempting another boundary next ball when he uppercut to third man for Finch to take an easy catch. It deprived Kohli of a 26th Test century and the chance to surpass boyhood hero Sachin Tendulkar by making a seventh hundred in Australia. They remain tied on six each. A stoic Pujara had been unflappable in his 319-ball innings until Pat Cummins sent down a rocket that stayed low, breached his defence and clattered into the stumps. Pujara, who has scored more runs and faced more balls than any other batsman in the series, added 38 to his overnight 68 in another tremendous knock by a man who has now scored 17 Test tons and two in this series. More episodes of The Cricket Pod: It was an arduous day for Australia's bowlers in hot conditions with Cummins' 3-72 proving the pick. Rohit, back after missing the second Test with an injury, was in good touch, but had a massive let-off on 15 when he swept a Nathan Lyon delivery to square leg where substitute fielder Peter Siddle made a complete mess of a simple catch. Australia's leading spinner finally got a reward in his next over, trapping vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane lbw for 34 as the pitch started to show signs of variable bounce which could spell trouble for the home batsmen. Lyon had another chance spilled when Cummins fumbled an easy catch from Rishabh Pant near the boundary. Pant finally fell for 39 and when Ravindra Jadeja went soon after, Kohli made the declaration. The flat track in Melbourne follows much livelier pitches in Adelaide and Perth which produced results in the four-Test series which is on a knife-edge at 1-1. Last year's Boxing Day Test saw a dull Ashes draw with England that prompted the match referee to grade the pitch "poor" and there was hope for more juice in it this time round. Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts said the pitch would only be fully judged after the Test finishes, but conceded "a sense of urgency in the regeneration of this wicket square".

Cheteshwar Pujara century and Virat Kohli put India in dominant position against Australia in third Test

Marcus Harris was five not out, with Aaron Finch on three as Australia started their response to India's 443-7 declared total