Opener Gautam Gambhir struck a career-best 149 not out — his second consecutive century — to steer India to 296-3 at stumps on the first day of the third Test against Australia on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old left-hander added 130 runs for the third wicket with Sachin Tendulkar (68) and 139 more for the unbroken fourth wicket with Vangipurappu Laxman, who was 54 not out.
The Delhi batsman struck 20 fours and a six in his 285-ball knock to rescue India from early trouble.
Gambhir scored 104 in the second innings of the second Test in Mohali, which India won by a record 320 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the four-match series. His previous best Test score was 139.
Tendulkar scored his 51st Test fifty before left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson had him caught behind to claim his second wicket before tea, but Laxman helped consolidate the innings.
Strike bowler Brett Lee removed opener Virender Sehwag (1) and Johnson claimed Rahul Dravid (11) in the morning after skipper Anil Kumble won the toss and elected to bat, but the visiting bowlers failed to push home the advantage.
The first Test in Bangalore was drawn. The final Test starts in Nagpur on November 6. — Reuters