Ind vs Aus, 2nd Test Day 3: Pujara, Rahul lead India's fightback

Bengaluru: Ravindra Jadeja (6/63), KL Rahul (51), Cheteshwar Pujara (79*) and Ajinkya Rahane (40*) kept alive India’s hopes of levelling the four-match series as the Virat Kohli-led side ended Day 3 of the second Test at 213/4; leading Australia by 126 runs; here on Monday.

While Kohli (15) could not do much with the bat after given out LBW as it remained inconclusive whether the ball hit his pad first or bat, Pujara and Rahul, alongside Rahane, made sure India remain in hunt to win the second Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Earlier, India managed to wrap up Australian innings at 276, restricting their first innings' lead to 87 runs, as Jadeja ran through Australia's lower order to seal his seventh five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

India 213/4 from 72 overs:

Stumps! India have done a fine job to take their lead to 126 runs at stumps on Day three as Rahane and Pujara put up an unbeaten 93-run stand after KL Rahul's half-century gave India a platform and confidence to tackle Australian bowlers.

India 205/4 from 68 overs:

200 up for India and they still have six wickets in hand. Lead moves past 110 runs. India are doing a fine job to dash Australia's plans to run through their batting line-up.

India 192/4 from 63 overs:

India's lead has crossed 100-run mark as Pujara and Rahane continue what could be a match-winning partnership for India. The duo has played it sensibly without missing out on chances to score runs.

India 178/4 from 58 overs:

Rahane is slowly but surely finding his groove as Pujara continues to look solid. Positive signs for India as lead crosses 90-run mark.

India 159/4 from 55 overs:

Fifty for Pujara. He raises his bat knowing the job is just half done. Kohli's reaction, from the dressing room, meanwhile how important Pujara's knock has been.

India 148/4 from 47 overs:

Pujara is doing an excellent job to hold this Indian innings after KL Rahul's dismissal. Rahane's chance to play a big knock and prove his doubters wrong. India need 200 plus runs to revive hopes of winning this match and level the series.

Watch: Steve Smith pulls off an absolute blinder to dismiss KL Rahul

India 122/4 from 39 overs:

Tea time! Australia's session as they scalp 4 wickets despite India taking the lead. While KL Rahul was the stand-out batsman for India before Steve Smith took a stunner, Josh Hazlewood was the pick of the bowler as he scalped three wickets.

India 120/4 from 38.1 overs:

WICKET! Josh Hazlewood has done it again. Shatters Ravindra Jadeja's defence before disturbing the timber. India 4 down. The move to send Jadeja up the order has not worked for India.

India 112/3 from 34.2 overs:

WICKET! This was all too close. On-field umpire gives Kohli out LBW, Kohli goes up for a review quickly. Bat before the pad? Bat-pad at the same time? Pad before the bat? All too inconclusive for anyone's liking. Can't blame the third umpire for the decision, can't blame Kohli for opting for a review either. Third umpire, after having watched the replays for many times, decides to stick with on-field call. 

India 84/2 from 24.2 overs:

WICKET! Oh, my word! What a stunner from Steve Smith in the slip! He flies to his right to snatch a one-handed screamer to dismiss KL Rahul. Perhaps, this was the only way Australia could have got KL Rahul out.

India 83/1 from 24 overs:

Fifty for KL Rahul. His second in the match and third in the series. That reckless shot apart in the first innings of the Pune Test, he has been one Indian batsman who had batted well against the Aussies in the series.

India 65/1 from 19 overs:

Pitch continues to offer variable bounce but KL Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara are holding fort as they show patience. No easy wickets for Aussies thus far from Indian batsmen till now.

India 44/1 from 12 overs:

Josh Hazlewood's wicket-to-wicket strategy has worked again. The Aussie paceman manages to breach Mukund's defence, as the ball goes on to crash into the stumps.

India 38/0 from 10 overs:

Lunch break! India have done well in the first session on day three. First, they did not allow Australia's lead to swell up and go past 100 and then made sure they score at good pace without losing any wickets before lunch.

Intent is the word as KL Rahul and Abhinav Mukund are making sure India don't allow Australia to run away with the advantage.

India 20/0 from 4 overs:

Brisk start for India as KL Rahul and Abhinav Mukund score some quick runs. Positive start as India look to get past Australia's first innings lead of 87. 

Australia 276 all out from 122.4 overs:

WICKET! It had to be Jadeja. He has 6 wickets against his name as Josh Hazlewood mistimes one to long-on. KL Rahul holds onto the catch and starts rushing towards the dressing room. Australia lead by 87 runs. India, if they bat well, are in with a chance to harbour hopes of completing a come-from-behind win in Bengaluru. Time for batsmen to put up their hands.

India to bat again.

Australia 274/9 from 120.2 overs:

WICKET! LBW. Jadeja removes Lyon on first ball. He is on a hat-trick.

Australia 274/8 from 120.1 overs:

WICKET! Jadeja strikes. Wade is trapped before the wickets. He reviews the decision but it is of no avail. India strike twice in quick succession. Time to scalp the next 2 wickets and restrict Australia's lead below 100 runs.

Australia 269/7 from 118 overs:

WICKET! Finally, a breakthrough India were looking for. Mitchell Starc perishes as he tries to clear the leg-side field. Ashwin tosses one up, Starc goes for a biggie but Ravindra Jadeja does a fine job near the boundary rope to hold onto the catch.

Bengaluru: India’s task on Day 3 of the second Test against Australia is cut out; dismiss the visitors well below 300 and then start building the innings in a way where Steve Smith and Co will have to chase at least 200 runs with a lot of batting to be done on Day 5.

Australia, who will resume play on the overnight score of 237/6, would want to dash Virat Kohli and Co’s plans and build a big first innings lead to deny India a chance to seal a come-from-behind win at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

However, with Indian bowlers bowling their hearts out and the pitch offering variable bounce; it will not be an easy task for Australia as Matthew Wade and Mitchell Starc begin proceedings on Day 3.