Pujara and Rahane keep India afloat

Bengaluru: Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane shared an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 93 to keep alive India's hopes of a series-levelling win over Australia, giving the hosts a lead of 126 on a see-saw third day of the second test on Monday.

India were struggled at tea to reach 122 for 4, taking a lead of mere 35 runs, but 93-run parternership between Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane for fifth wicket gives India slightly edge first in th series.

But Pujara and Rahane batted through the final session to ensure India will set them a decent target to chase on a difficult pitch.

At the stump, Pujara was batting on 79 with Rahane on 40 at the other end. Pujara completes 14th Test half-century 125-ball. He hits six boundaries in 173-ball unbeaten knock.

Seamer Josh Hazzlewood (3-57) was the tormentor for India as he accounted for Abhinav Mukund (16), Virat Kohli (15) and Ravindra Jadeja (2). He began the downfall of India when a delivery hit Mukund's pads before going on to kiss the stumps, with the hosts at 39 for 1.

Left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe too the big wicket of in-form Rahul (51). Steven Smith, at first slip, pulled off a blinder with a superb diving catch to the right.

At 84/2, Kohli joined Pujara in the middle and the latter departed soon with a LBW decision in favour of Hazzlewood, whose delivery at the off stump kept low. Kohli thought his bat touched the ball before hitting the pad and took a Decision Review System (DRS) but the field umpire's decision remained.

Left-hander Jadeja was promoted ahead of Rahane and Wriddhiman Saha but the all-rounder could only survive for 12 deliveries, with Hazzlewood dismantling his stumps, with India reeling at 120/4.

The day started with Australia resuming on 237-6, a lead of 48, and the tourists added 32 runs before losing their last four wickets for seven runs.

India were looking to race through Australia's lower order but left-handers Matthew Wade and Mitchell Starc kept them at bay for the first 45 minutes.

The Australians dealt well with the threat of off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin before Starc perished for 26, holing out to a brilliant catch from Jadeja on the deep mid-wicket boundary to trigger a collapse.

Kohli finally brought on Jadeja in the ninth over of the day and the left-armer Jadeja trapped Wade leg before for 40 and repeated the feat with his next ball to Lyon to complete his seventh five-wicket haul in tests.

Hazlewood denied Jadeja (6-63) his hat-trick but soon became the 28-year-old's sixth victim

Brief scores
India - 189 (Rahul 90, Lyon 8-50) & 213 for 4 (Pujara 79*, Rahul 51, Hazlewood 3-57)
Australia - 276 (SE Marsh 66, Renshaw 60, Jadeja 6-63)
Status - India lead by 126 runs