SYDNEY (Agencies): Centurions Cheteshwar Pujara and Rishabh Pant’s contrasting career highlights broke records and Australia’s resolve on day two of the fourth Test at the SCG, where India declared at 7-622.
Australia survived a 10-over burst to reach 0-24 at stumps, thanks partly to a dropped catch from Pant that handed Usman Khawaja a life on zero, but their hopes of avoiding a maiden home series loss to India are in tatters.
The hosts’ misfiring attack continued to toil on Friday for scant reward, picking up a wicket in each session as Pujara extended his most-productive series with a patient 193.
Pujara’s highest score outside India was followed by the biggest of Pant’s career, 159 not out, and Ravindra Jadeja’s knock of 81. Pujara’s dismissal reduced India to 6-418 but Pant and Jadeja put on 204 runs, a record for the seventh wicket in Australia, before the latter’s dismissal prompted Virat Kohli to show some mercy.
A demoralised Australia took the third new ball after tea but couldn’t avoid the ignominy of their opposition reaching 600, with India’s fourth highest Test total outside Asia leaving them perfectly placed to end a barren streak in Australia that dates back to 1948.
It was the sixth highest Test total by a touring team in Australia. Pant strolled to three figures off 137 balls, making history when he smacked a full delivery from Marnus Labuschagne to the rope to reach three figures, then needed 48 more deliveries to pass 150.
Pant produced the first Test century by an Indian keeper in Australia, while the 21-year-old became the youngest keeper to hit a Test hundred in Australia. Khawaja arrived at the venue on Friday morning with high hopes of Australia’s quicks running through the middle order and tail of India, who resumed at 4-303.
Instead, he found himself rolling his arm over in the day’s final session as Tim Paine struggled to come up with fresh ideas on a placid pitch. Pujara, who chipped a catch back to Nathan Lyon, was the sole wicket in the post-lunch session.
The morning session was likewise lopsided, featuring only Hanuma Vihari’s dismissal to Lyon for 42, while the offspinner didn’t even celebrate when he bowled Jadeja during his 58th over.
Pant and Jadeja combined for the third 100-plus partnership of the innings. Australia’s misfiring batsmen, by contrast, have managed a single 100-plus partnership in the entire series.
