PHOTOS: Pujara's double ton flattens Australia on Day 3

Cheteshwar Pujara struck his second Test double century to ensure a huge first-innings lead as hosts India took a stranglehold of the second Test against a hapless Australia in Hyderabad, on Monday.

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Pujara's masterly knock of 204 and his record 370-run partnership with Murali Vijay (167) helped India pile up a commanding 503, giving the hosts a lead of 266 runs on the third day at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

Ravichandran Ashwin claimed two quick wickets late in the day as Australia finished the day at a shaky 74 for two in their second innings.

There was no stopping Pujara, who continued his good form and kept the runs coming at a good rate.

Pujara didn't show any signs of hurry as he had enough time to play his strokes. With the pitch getting slower. the Saurashtra batsman also completed another personal landmark of 1000 Test runs.

Pujara and Murali Vijay punished the lacklustre Australian attack as India went into lunch at a score of 400 for three with their first innings lead swelling upto 163.

The duo eclipsed the 34-year-old second wicket partnership record of 344 runs set by Sunil Gavaskar (182) and Dilip Vengsarkar (157) against the West Indies at Kolkata in 1978.

Vijay, under pressure after his twin failures in the previous match, continued to play a big knock as he brought up his 150 from 332 balls.

He was the first wicket to fall in the day when he gloved one to Ed Cowan at short leg to give debutant Glenn Maxwell his first wicket in Test cricket after a career-best knock of 167.

Vijay and Pujara added a whopping 370 runs for the second wicket to lead India's domination with the bat.

During the course of the marathon partnership between Pujara and Vijay, a few record tumbled by the wayside. The duo also eclipsed the 34-year-old second-wicket partnership record of 344 runs, set by Sunil Gavaskar (182) and Dilip Vengsarkar (157), against West Indies at Kolkata in 1978.

Pujara and Vijay were unlucky as they failed to surpass the VVS Laxman-Rahul Dravid record partnership of 376 runs for any wicket against Australia at the Eden by seven runs.

Pujara reached his double hundred, when he came down the track to whip off-spinner Maxwell through midwicket.

The right-hander brought the landmark from 332 balls, hitting 30 fours and a six.

During the course of his innings, he also brought up the 1000-run mark in Test cricket, in his 18th innings. He is second fastest Indian to reach the 1000-run mark after Vinod Kambli, who took 14 innings to get there.

Pujara's marathon innings ended when he was dismissed by pacer Pattinson.

He scored a magnificent 204 before he was caught on the fine leg boundary as he tried to hook a short delivery from Pattinson. The right-hander faced 341 balls with 30 boundaries and a six.

Funnily, Sachin Tendulkar also got associated with a record.

Coming in to bat at No 4, Tendukar had to wait till the fifth ball of the 118th over to come in which is by far the highest duration that he has waited at the pavilion with his pads on.

Tendulkar made seven before he was caught down the leg-side by wicketkeeper Matthew Wade. As Pattinson and other players went up with a caught behind appeal, umpire Kumar Dharmasena referred the legality of the catch to third umpire S Ravi, who adjudged it caught behind.

The in-form Mahendra Singh Dhoni started clobbering the bowlers from the word go as he hit seven boundaries before hitting Maxwell straight to the fielder at mid-off.

Once Indian captain was out, the visitors didn't take much time to polish off the lower order.

India lost their last five wickets for 19 runs and were bowled out for 503 in their first innings.

Debutant Maxwell was the most successful bowler for Australia grabbing four for 127 while Xavier Doherty took three wickets at the expense of 131 runs.

Pattinson once again impressed on a slow wicket as he finished with two for 80 in 29 overs.

Ravichandran Ashwin struck twice, late in the day to claim the wickets of David Warner (26) and Phillip Hughes (0) in quick succession as Australia finished the day at a shaky 74 for two in their second innings.

Both Warner and Hughes were dismissed in identical fashion as tried to play the sweep but missed and were bowled.

At stumps, Australia required another 192 runs to avoid an innings defeat on a difficult pitch for the batsmen.