Nagpur, Feb 11 (PTI) Axar Patel hit a career-best 84 to stretch India's first innings lead to a massive 223 as they were bowled out for 400 at lunch on the third day of the opening Test against Australia here on Friday.

The left-hander, who was overnight 52, looked calm and in control to give India a solid batting depth at No 9 in his career-best that came off 174 balls (10x4s, 1x6).

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Pat Cummins (2/78) cleaned him up at the stroke of lunch.

All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja made 70. Mohammed Shami also contributed with a 47-ball 37.

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Debutant Tod Murphy returned impressive figures of 47-12-124-7.

Brief Scores: Australia 1st innings: 177 all out in 63.5 overs. India 1st innings: 400 all out in 139.3 overs (Rohit Sharma 120, Axar Patel 84, Ravindra Jadeja 70; Todd Murphy 7/124).

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)