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Aus vs Ind Test 1 Day 3: Kohli scores hundred to lead India's charge at Adelaide

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DC Correspondent
11 Dec 2014 8:30 AM GMT
Virat Kohli and co. stood up against Australia's hostile bowling attack
Aus vs Ind Test 1 Day 3: Kohli scores hundred to lead Indias charge at Adelaide
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Virat Kohli survived a fearsome blow on the helmet from a Mitchell Johnson bouncer as he scored a defiant century to keep India in the first Test against Australia at Adelaide Oval. Photo: AP

Adelaide: Virat Kohli led India's charge with a gritty hundred as he and the other Indian batsmen put up a solid show to score 369 runs for the loss of five wickets on the third day of the opening Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday.

Here is how the action unfolded.

Pace spearhead Mitchell Johnson struck just before lunch to remove Murali Vijay and give Australia a big breakthrough after the stylish Indian right-hander scored ahalf-century.

It was a key wicket after Vijay had looked threatening in reaching his seventh half-century with 53 off 88 balls with three fours and two sixes.

Johnson struck Virat Kohli on his helmet with a bouncer next ball but the India captain was OK to continue after a few moments of concern from the fielders.

Read: Jittery Aussies rattled after Virat Kohli hit by bouncer

Australia batsman Phillip Hughes was fatally struck by a bouncer late in November.

Watch:

India got to lunch at 119 for two with Cheteshwar Pujara on 34 and Kohli not out three, still 398 in arrears, after Michael Clarke declared Australia's first innings at their overnight 517 for seven.

Pujara and Vijay posted India's highest second-wicket stand at the Adelaide Oval, surpassing the modest 71 put on by Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar in 2007.

Vijay gave a tough chance on 11 when he edged Johnson through the slips cordon and Mitchell Marsh got fingertips to it diving across in front of Steve Smith.

Vijay hit the first six of the Test when he advanced down the wicket and slammed off-spinner Nathan Lyon over the long-on ropes and followed up with a four next ball in the 20th over.

He smashed another towering six in Lyon's next over to keep the Indian scoring rate humming along at more than four an over.

Clarke, who made one sprawling save in the outfield despite his stiff back, used five bowlers in the extended opening session.

Shikhar Dhawan looked dangerous early, taking 14 off one Johnson over, before Ryan Harris bowled him off an inside edge for 25 off 24 balls in the eighth over.

(Photo: AP)

The pair of Pujara and Virat Kohli though looked in a fine touch as they scored at a brisk rate in the post lunch session. Pujara batted fluently and seemed keen to make up for his failures in England.

Kohli, from the other end, gave him a solid company as the pair continued to put runs on the board withoout compromising on the run-rate.

But Nathan Lyon broke the partnership as he dismissed Pujara after the right-hander had scored 73.

Rahane joined skipper Virat Kohli in the middle. While Kohli looked secured and sound after being hit by a bouncer on the first ball he faced, Rahane looked uncertain and edgy. The pair though made sure that India's run-rate did not drop down.

Although a little unsure against the spin of Lyon and short stuff from Johnson and Siddle, Rahane brought up his fifty in quick time with some delightful shots and gave Kohli a good company in the middle.

(Photo: AP)

But Nathan Lyon, who enjoyed bowling at the Adelaide Oval, ended Rahane's stay in the middle. The ball that got Rahane bounced on him and he was in no shape to tackle that one. His Rajasthan Royals' teammate, Shane Watson, took an easy catch in the slip.

Virat Kohli though continued his march and scored a high class hundred, his second at the Adelaide Oval in Tests. Along the way, Virat Kohli became the third Indian to score a century on captaincy debut after Vijay Hazare and Sunil Gavaskar.

Rohit, although a little adventurous in his strokeplay, accompanied Virat Kohli as the duo put up 74-run partnership. However, India lost their skipper just before the end of day's play.

Kohli, who batted with grit and maturity throughout his inning, could not put one down off Mitchell Johnson's bowling. Ryan Harris who was fielding at the deep fine-leg took a fine running catch to give Australia a much-needed wicket before the stumps on day three.

Wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha had to go through a testingb spell of fast bowling from Mitchell Johnson. But he did well to survive it and remained unbeaten on 1. He and Rohit Sharma, who is batting on 33, would resume India's reply to Australia's 517 on Friday.

( Source : afp/dc )
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