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Ind vs Aus 4th Test Day 3: Hundreds from Kohli, Rahul lead India's fightback

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DC Correspondent
8 Jan 2015 6:36 AM GMT
India though must bat well on day four to avoid follow-on
Ind vs Aus 4th Test Day 3: Hundreds from Kohli, Rahul lead Indias fightback
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Enjoying a rich vein of form, India's new Test skipper Virat Kohli brought up his fourth hundred of the ongoing series against Australia. Photo: Screengrab

Sydney: Australia were left ruing television interference as India's Lokesh Rahul's maiden Test century and Virat kohli's unbeaten 140 guided the tourists to 342 for five on the third day of the fourth Test against Australia on Thursday.

Here is how the action unfolded.

Replying to Australia's 572-7 declared, Rahul was on 106 not out at the break with his captain Virat Kohli, who was unbeaten on 67, alongside him in a partnership of 137 that survived the entire second session.

The duo though upped the scoring rate and made sure that they cash in on the loose deliveries. The Karnataka batsman, who did not enjoy a good debut in Melbourne, did not do an encore in Sydney and partnered his skipper to keep India in good stead.

While Rahul and Kohli looked solid in the middle, Australia were a little sloppy in the field. Although there were a few near misses, they were close to end Kohli's inning had Smith did not spill a relatively easy chance standing in the slips.

Rahul, meanwhile reached his first ever International hundred in the final over before tea. The highly-rated youngster became the first Indian to score an international hundred in 2015. The 22-year-old displayed solidity as he reached his maiden three-figure mark.

He, however, could not prolong his stay and got out of Mitchell Starc's bowling. After scoring a fighting 110, a mistimed pull ended Rahul's stay in the middle.

Virat Kohli, enjoying a brilliant run of form with the bat in the series, brought up his hundred hitting one straight off Hazlewood. The newly-elected Indian Test skipper, who had his share of luck in this inning and he made sure to make most of it to notch up his fourth hundred of the series.

However, India's joy about Kohli's hundred was short-lived when Shane Watson struck twice in an over to dismiss Ajinkya Rahane and Suresh Raina. Rahane played a cross-batted pull and was trapped plumb in front.

The man making a comeback, played a loose shot on the first ball he faced and was caught behind the wickets by Brad Haddin.

Wriddhiman Saha, who came in next, not only avoided the hat-trick but negotiated well to remain not-out by the end of third day's play. The gritty wicketkeeper-batsman accompanied in-form Virat Kohli to take India past 340.

Earlier, the tourists, 2-0 down in the four-match series and resuming on 71-1, took a cautious approach to cutting into the huge deficit they face after Australia declared on a mammoth 572-7 on Wednesday.

Sharma (53) had just reached his fifth test half century with a drive over extra cover for four when he attempted a sweep only to drag a Nathan Lyon delivery onto his stumps with a bottom edge.

That broke a 96-run partnership with opener Lokesh Rahul, who survived to reach his first test half century from 161 balls and will resume after the break on 50 not out alongside his captain Virat Kohli (16 not out).

Rahul, who enjoyed a miserable introduction to test cricket with just four runs in two innings in the drawn Melbourne match last week, was almost run out soon after Sharma departed.

Sent back by Kohli after calling for a single when Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin spilled the ball, Rahul fell over halfway down the wicket and, leaving his bat behind, launched himself head first towards the safety of the crease.

Skipper Steve Smith stood with his hands on his hips showing his disappointment at Australia's failure to snap up the chance on a Sydney Cricket Ground track that still looked excellent for batting.

Smith was even less impressed when Rahul ballooned a shot into the air just before the break which the Australian failed to gather, proclaiming loudly that it had hit the wire that holds the overhead TV camera in place.

"It's clear the ball did not hit the camera or its supporting wires," Broadcaster Channel Nine and Cricket Australia later said in a joint statement.

"Captain Steve Smith was distracted by one of the wires in his eye line. Both CA and Nine will continue to work together on the use of Spidercam in the broadcast coverage and will take on board any player feedback as necessary."

He will have been more pleased with the bowling of his pace attack, who contributed to the one wicket to fall by frustrating the Indian batsmen with disciplined bowling which encouraged them to look to score runs off spinner Lyon.

( Source : reuters/dc )
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