India vs Australia, 3rd Test, Day 1: India toil as Smith, Maxwell power Aussies to 299/4 at stumps
Ranchi: Heavily criticised for his “brain fade” moment in the Bengaluru Test, Australian skipper Steve Smith lead’s his team’s charge with a gritty hundred (119*) as he and Glenn Maxwell (82*) powered Australia to 299/4 at stumps on Day 1 of the third Test here on Thursday.
Smith, who notched up his 19th hundred in the longer format of the game, stitched an unbeaten 159-run stand with Maxwell as Australia did not let India dominate proceedings after having lost four wickets for 140.
Smith continued his fine run of form against India as Australia, who were 194/4 at tea, scored 105 runs in the final session to be a run away from 300-run mark at the close of play on the opening day of the third Test in MS Dhoni's hometown.
Australia, who began the post lunch session at 109/3, scored 85 runs in the second session and lost the wicket of Peter Handscomb, who was given out LBW off Umesh Yadav's bowling.
Earlier, Australia, who made a flying start scoring 50 runs before the end of ten overs, lost David Warner after he mistimed a fulltoss and gave an easy catch to Jadeja. Renshaw was the second man to get out after he chased one off Umesh Yadav and edged it to Virat Kohli in the first slip.
Shaun Marsh followed Renshaw to the dressing room after Cheteshwar Pujara took a fine diving catch at the forward short-leg as R Ashwin gave India their third breakthrough in the first session.
Australia skipper Steven Smith won the toss and elected to bat against Virat Kohli-led India in the third Test at the Jharkhand State Cricket Association International Stadium Complex here on Thursday.
India have made just one change, bringing in Murali Vijay, who has recovered from a shoulder injury, in place of Abhinav Mukund.
Australia have included Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell in their playing XI to replace injured Mitchell Marsh and Mitchell Starc.
Teams:
India: Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Karun Nair, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma.
Australia: David Warner, Mark Renshaw, Steve Smith (captain), Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Wade, Steve O'Keefe, Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins, Jose Hazlewood.
