India struggled to reach 122 for 4 in their second innings, taking a lead of mere 35 runs against Australia till the tea session on the third day of the second cricket Test at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Monday.
Having ended the morning session at 38/0 after Australia were bowled out for 276 runs in their first innings with a first-innings lead of 87 runs, India struggled to put up a strong partnership and lost four wickets.
At the break, Cheteshwar Pujara was batting on 34 with Ajinkya Rahane on 2 at the other end.
Seamer Josh Hazzlewood (3-37) was the tormentor for India as he accounted for Abhinav Mukund (16), Virat Kohli (15) and Ravindra Jadeja (2).
He began the downfall of India when a delivery hit Mukund's pads before going on to kiss the stumps, with the hosts at 39-1.
Left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe too the big wicket of in-form Rahul (51). Steven Smith, at first slip, pulled off a blinder with a superb diving catch to the right.
At 84/2, Kohli joined Pujara in the middle and the latter departed soon with a LBW decision in favour of Hazzlewood, whose delivery at the off stump kept low. Kohli thought his bat touched the ball before hitting the pad and took a Decision Review System (DRS) but the field umpire's decision remained.
Left-hander Jadeja was promoted ahead of Rahane and Wriddhiman Saha but the all-rounder could only survive for 12 deliveries, with Hazzlewood dismantling his stumps, with India reeling at 120/4.
--IANS
pur/dg
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