Pujara torments Australia with third century as India march on

India’s Cheteshwar Pujara celebrates his century  during the first day of the fourth and final cricket Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney, January 3, 2019 - AFP 

SYDNEY, REUTERS: Cheteshwar Pujara put Australia to the sword with an unbeaten 130 in India’s 303 for four on the opening day of the fourth test on Thursday, keeping the tourists firmly on track for a historic breakthrough with his third century of the series. 

The hosts, desperately scrapping to avoid being the first Australia team to lose a series to India on home soil, had their successes and managed to dislodge Mayank Agarwal after a bright 77, Virat Kohli for 23 and Ajinkya Rahane for 18. 

Pujara, however, would just not budge and eked out his innings at a rate of little more than a run every other ball to take his series tally to 458 and add another century to those that helped India to wins in Adelaide and Melbourne. 

Those victories to Australia’s one win in Perth means India need only to avoid defeat in the final test at Sydney Cricket Ground to secure their maiden test series triumph Down Under. 

Again India’s rock, Pujara put together partnerships of 116 with Agarwal, 54 with Kohli, 48 with Rahane and finished the day with an unbroken stand of 75 with Hanuma Vihari, who will resume on day two on 39 not out. 

“It’s great to watch him from the other end, the way he grinds the bowlers,” Agarwal said. “We’re very happy. We would have liked to be probably three down but 300 for four on the first day after choosing to bat, I think we’re in a great position.” 

Australia’s bowlers laboured manfully on a hot day but it was hard to avoid the conclusion that they were firmly behind the eight-ball from the moment Tim Paine lost the toss. 

India have never lost a test match when Kohli has won the toss -- winning 18 and drawing three -- but more importantly the tourists had the opportunity to bat the Australians out of the game as they did in Melbourne. 

Josh Hazlewood struck early on a wicket with a greenish tinge to remove KL Rahul for nine but that only brought Pujara to the crease to join Agarwal, the senior man initially happy to let the opener take the scoring load.