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BANGALORE. – Australian seamer Josh Hazlewood yesterday acknowledged the second Test cricket hung in the balance after India’s Cheteshwar Pujara hit an unbeaten half-century to lead the hosts’ fightback on day three in Bangalore.

The hosts were 213 for four at stumps, leading Australia by 126 runs in their second innings after the tourists’ hopes of building a big lead were undermined by an oustanding bowling performance from Ravindra Jadeja.

Pujara on 79 and Ajinkya Rahane on 40 were batting at close of play. Hazlewood claimed three wickets. The pair put together a stubborn 93-run partnership for the fifth wicket to lift India from a wobbly 120-4 at Bangalore’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

“It feels pretty level at the moment. They fought back really well in that last session,” Hazlewood told reporters.

“Credit to the two guys out there. They stuck to their plans and scratched away for quite a bit of amount of runs,” Hazlewood said after India scored 91 runs in the last session without losing a wicket. Pujara led the way with his controlled knock as he kept a persistent Australian attack at bay, prompting skipper Steve Smith to rotate his bowling options. – AFP.