Skipper MS Dhoni has pulled out one of his finest counter-attacking knocks to reach 97 not out in India’s 6-371 at tea on day three of the first Test.
India had resumed on 3-182 on Sunday in reply to Australia’s first innings of 380 and made solid progress on a typically wearing Chennai pitch.
Offspinner Nathan Lyon (2-115) claimed the wickets of Sachin Tendulkar for 81 and Virat Kohli for 107 before James Pattinson hit the stumps for the fourth time in the innings to bowl Ravindra Jadeja for 16 near the end of the second session.
Five of India’s first six wickets have been dismissed bowled on the low-bouncing Chennai pitch, but the home side have dominated day three.
Dhoni has crunched 12 fours and one six from 116 deliveries, although his progress towards his first hundred against Australia has slowed after rocketing to 85 from 79 balls.
Ravi Ashwin is three not out.
Tendulkar had inside-edged a ball onto his stumps at 4-196, robbing the thousands of the screaming fans in attendance of the chance to see the 39-year-old little master score his first Test hundred since January 2011.
Lyon finally got his man after a confident lbw appeal against Tendulkar on 37 had been rejected on Saturday.
Kohli looked to the heavens after completing his 199-ball century, his fourth in a 15-Test career and second in successive matches against Australia after his 116 in Adelaide 13 months ago.
Dhoni hit debutant seamer Moises Henriques out of the attack after only one over which cost 12 runs. But Kohli’s attempt to copy Dhoni’s big-hitting tactics fell flat when he was caught at mid-on.
Pattinson had thrown his arms up in frustration when he thought he had Dhoni lbw for 93, leading to skipper Michael Clarke having a brief discussion with Sri Lankan umpire Kumar Dharmasena.
But Pattinson’s perseverance paid off when Jadeja was bowled without playing a shot in the pace bowler’s next over.
AAP gab/wk