India v Australia: Pat Cummins puts brakes on reply despite Cheteshwar Pujara’s century

Pat Cummins, centre, celebrates with Australia teammates after claiming the wicket of India's Ravichandran Ashwin on Saturday. Sajjad Hussain / AFP

Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins claimed four wickets on Saturday to dent India’s response despite Cheteshwar Pujara’s dogged century on Day 3 of the third Test in Ranchi.

India were 306 for six at stumps, still trailing the visitors by 91 runs in their first innings. Pujara (130) and Wriddhiman Saha (18) were batting at close of play.

Cummins, making a return after playing his only Test for Australia in 2011, got crucial breaks including the prized scalp of India captain Virat Kohli.

Cummins, 23, was ably supported by fellow paceman Josh Hazlewood and spinner Steve O’Keefe who took a wicket each on a pitch that still looked good for batting.

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Pujara, who was involved in a 102-run second-wicket stand with overnight partner Murali Vijay (82), was holding the innings together with his 11th Test century.

Pujara hit 17 boundaries in an otherwise sedate knock to keep India’s hopes alive of surpassing Australia’s first innings total of 451.

Puajara built crucial partnerships with Ajinkya Rahane (14) and Karun Nair (23) but the Australian pacemen rattled India’s middle order with some inspired bowling.

Cummins, who struck twice in the afternoon session, got Rahane caught behind and Hazlewood bowled Nair with a beautiful reverse swinging delivery in the final session.

Australia captain Steve Smith kept up the pressure by rotating his bowling options as runs trickled in for the hosts in the final two hours of play.

India, whose innings run-rate is less than three an over, managed to score only 57 runs in the 31 overs bowled in the final session and lost two wickets.

Earlier Kohli, who turned out to bat at his regular No 4 spot laying to rest any injury concerns, lasted only 23 balls before edging a catch to his opposite number Steve Smith at second slip.

Kohli had injured his right shoulder after an awkward fall while fielding during Australia’s innings on Thursday and stayed off the field for 400 minutes before taking crease.

He came into the rubber with double centuries in four successive series, but has only managed 46 runs in his five innings since the opener in Pune.

In the morning session, Vijay hit a gutsy 82 before undoing his hard work by being stumped off O’Keefe at the stroke of lunch.

The series between the world’s top two sides is tantalisingly poised at 1-1 with India needing at least a draw to have any chance of winning back the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

* Agence France-Presse

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