| Scores | Upcoming | Results |
Ranchi: Centurion Cheteshwar Pujara's marathon effort helped India whittle down the lead to 91 runs as the hosts reached 360/6 at stumps on day three of the third cricket Test against Australia here on Saturday.
Pujara (130 not out) and wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha (18 not out) went undefeated after adding 32 runs for the seventh wicket when the umpires dislodged the bails for the day at the Jharkhand State Cricket Association Stadium here.
India lost the crucial wickets of Karun Nair (23) and Ravichandran Ashwin (3) in the final session, with pacer Pat Cummins emerging the wrecker-in-chief taking four for 59.
Pujara added 102 runs with Murali Vijay (82), 32 runs with Virat Kohli (6), 51 runs with Ajinkya Rahane (14), and another 44 runs with Karun Nair (23). Along with Saha, for the seventh wicket, Pujara has so far added 32 runs, but most importantly, bringing down Australia’s lead into double digits.
Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins claimed four wickets while fellow paceman Josh Hazlewood and left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe took one each.
Brief scores
Australia - 451 (Smith 178*, Maxwell 104, Jadeja 5-124)
India - 360 for 6 (Pujara 130*, Vijay 82, Rahul 67)
Status - India trail by 91 runs
