Overnight batsman Murali Vijay hit a gutsy half-century to lead India’s strong first innings reply on day three of the third Test against Australia in Ranchi on Saturday.
Vijay scored 82 off 183 balls before undoing his hard work at the stroke of lunch as he jumped out of his crease to be stumped off left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe.
India were 193 for two at the break with the hosts still trailing Australia by 258 runs at their newest Test venue. The visitors posted 451 in their first essay.
Cheteshwar Pujara (40) was batting at the break after his 102-run second-wicket partnership ended with Vijay’s dismissal, Australia’s only strike in the morning session.
The visitors started with a fast-spin bowling combine of Josh Hazlewood and Steve O’Keefe and continued to rotate their bowling options on a seemingly batting-friendly pitch.
Pujara survived a close lbw shout from left-arm spinner O’Keefe as the umpire turned down the appeal and Australia also failed with their review. TV replays suggested an inside edge on to the pad.
Vijay went on to benefit from the fact that the visitors had no reviews left and his bat-pad catch off Nathan Lyon was ruled not out by the umpire with replays indicating a definite edge of the bat. He was on 58.
Constant appeals from close in fielders continued for the rest of the session but the batsmen only gained momentum in the final half hour of the session.
Vijay, who was involved in a 91-run opening stand with Lokesh Rahul (67) on Friday, registered his 15th Test fifty before falling to O’Keefe’s guile.
The four-match series is evenly posied at 1-1.
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