Ranchi, March 17 (Cricketnmore) Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja struck crucial blows for India even as Australia rode skipper Steven Smith's steady batting to post 401\/7 in their first innings at lunch on the second day of the third cricket Test here on Friday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Jadeja picked up three wickets in the first session of the day to notch up figures of 4\/106.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Smith however, continued to bat steadily at the other end, posting an unbeaten 153 by lunch. Steven O'Keefe was batting on 1 at the other end.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Fast bowler Umesh Yadav had figures of 2\/94 while star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also picked up a wicket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The visitors started the day on a positive note with Maxwell bringing up the first runs of the day with a boundary.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The right-hander quickly completed his maiden century in the longest format of the game, reaching the landmark by guiding an Umesh Yadav delivery to the third man boundary.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Maxwewll, who is playing in only the fourth Test of his career, departed shortly afterwards when a Jadeja delivery landed on the off-stump line and spun away viciously. The ball kissed the outer edge of Maxwell's bat as Indian wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha pulled off an excellent catch.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Maxwell scored 104 runs off 185 balls with six hits to the fence. It was a rare display of patience and endurance from the right-hander who had scored only 80 runs in the three Tests he had played previously in his career.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He put on a partnership of 191 runs with Smith to give the visitors the upper hand following the loss of four early wickets on the first day of the Test match.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Matthew Wade joined Smith in the middle and the duo proceeded to add 64 runs between them before Jadeja struck twice in quick succession.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Wade seemed to be in good form, scoring 37 runs off the 50 balls he faced. He seemed on track for a half-century but was outfoxed by a Jadeja delivery which kept straight after pitching.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Wade, who played for the turn, only ended up handing an edge to Saha.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pat Cummins survived all of two deliveries before Jadaja bowled him with a beautiful delivery. The ball landed on the middle and leg stump line and spun away viciously, beating the outside edge of the bat to hit the off-stump.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Jadeja almost dismissed Smith in the last over before lunch, but the ball landed just short of the slip cordon.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Brief scores:<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Australia (First Innings): 401\/7 (Steven Smith 153 batting, Glenn Maxwell 104; Ravindra Jadeja 4\/106) vs India.m<\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2017\/03\/australian-batsman-steve-smith1.jpg", "alt_img": "Smith remains steady as Jadeja strikes", "alt_title": "Smith remains steady as Jadeja strikes", "image1": "", "video": "", "seo_title": "Smith remains steady as Jadeja strikes", "seo_desc": "Ranchi, March 17 (Cricketnmore) Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja struck crucial blows for India even as Australia rode skipper Steven Smith's steady batting to", "seo_keywords": "Steve Smith, India vs Australia", "tag": "", "tagging": "", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "0", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": "0", "slug": "smith-remains-steady-as-jadeja-strikes", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": "0000-00-00", "ians_time": "00:00:00", "server_time": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "trash": "0", "view_count": "1590", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "0", "auto_link": "0", "created": "2017-03-17 13:18:00", "updated": "2017-03-17 13:18:00", "img_from": "", "img_source": "", "schedule_publish": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "news_keywords": null, "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "0", "google_feed": "0", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "1", "jio_date": "2017-03-17 13:18:00", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "0", "google_date": "2017-03-17 13:18:00", "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": null, "article_content_type": null, "england_cricket": "0", "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/smith-remains-steady-as-jadeja-strikes-24795" }