Jadeja jolts Australia after Pujara-Saha show

There are dominating displays, and then there is this. Australia had gone all out in their preparations to counter the Indian players and conditions before their tour, but no amount of work or foresight would have enabled them to be ready for what unfurled on Day 4 of the third Test in Ranchi.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Wriddhiman Saha put on a record seventh-wicket stand, and in course broke multiple other records, to pound Australia into the ground and put India in a position from where they cannot lose the match.
When these two got together at the crease, India were still far from safety at 328 for 6 in the 116th over. When Pujara eventually was dismissed, India had racked up 527 in the 194th over. By then Pujara had hit his 11th double hundred in first-class cricket, and Wriddhiman Saha his third Test century. With a lead of over 70 already, India had assumed a position of great strength. Ravindra Jadeja added the cherry at the top of the cake in his inimitable style by cracking a quick-fire fifty, taking India past the 600-run mark. The hosts declared at 603 for 9, with a lead of 152. In reply, Australia lost David Warner and Nathan Lyon late in the day to end at 23 for 2.
Day 4 of the Test promised a lot, with both teams just about on par and fighting for higher ground. India were still a fair distance away from Australia's total, and early setback could well have handed the advantage to the visitors.

Brief scores: Australia 451 & 23/2 (David Warner 14; Ravindra Jadeja 2-6) trail India 603/9 decl. (Cheteshwar Pujara 202, Wriddhiman Saha 117, Ravindra Jadeja 54*; Pat Cummins 4-106, Steve O'Keefe 3-199) by 129 runs.

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