Sydney: Cheteshwar Pujara (130*) and Hanuma Vihari (39*) guide India to 303/4 at stumps on day one of the 4th and the final Test against Australia here on Thursday.The fifth-wicket pair shared an unbeaten 75-run stand between them as India concluded the opening day on top in Sydney.
Post tea, Mitchell Starc dismissed Ajinkya Rahane as he bowled a bouncer that took a top-edge off Rahane's bat and wicket-keeper Tim Paine made no mistake. Rahane departs for 18. India were at 228/4 in 70.2 overs.
Indian skipper, Virat Kohli also departed for 23 runs, which brought an end to the 54-run partnership. Josh Hazlewood took his second wicket.Earlier in the innings, Agarwal and Pujara continued their second-wicket partnership to 116 runs. The duo put on an attacking show after the break, with their 100-run stand coming off 178 balls.
India were 69/1 after 24 overs at Lunch.India won the toss and elected to bat. Opener K L Rahul's poor form continued here too after losing his wicket to Hazlewood in the third ball of the very 2nd over after being caught off at first slip by Marsh.Rahul's 9 came off in 6 balls with 2 fours.After Rahul's departure Mayank Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara for the second wicket partnership scored 59 runs.
However, Pujara (16) and Mayank (42) were at the crease when Lunch was declared.
Australian fast bowlers kept Pujara and Agarwal on their toes, but a dogged effort with the bat has ensured that India go into the break fairly happy after the early wicket.
For Australia Hazlewood gave an early breakthrough by taking wicket of Rahul.Leading 2-1 in the four-match series, India will be looking to make it 3-1 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).(UNI)
