An aggressive Rishabh Pant and stoic Cheteshwar Pujara kept India’s slim hopes of saving the third Test against Australia alive Monday as the tourists reached lunch on the final day with their run chase reduced to 201.
With the four-match series locked at 1-1, India resumed at 98-2, still needing a further 309 runs after being set a huge 407 to win after Australia declared their second innings at tea Sunday on 312 for six.
No team has ever bettered 288 to clinch victory in the fourth innings at the Sydney Cricket Ground, with Australia achieving that mark against South Africa in 2006.
By the break, India were 206 for three with Pant on 73 and Pujara 41, sharing a threatening 104-run partnership.
Australia removed openers Shubman Gill for 31 and Rohit Sharma for 52 before stumps on day four, and when Nathan Lyon accounted for captain Ajinkya Rahane in Monday’s second over the end appeared nigh.
But Pant, who took a nasty blow to his elbow while batting in the first innings…