LIVE India v/s Australia 2nd ODI Match Commentary: Umesh Yadav gets rid of Steve Smith, game in balance

So twice in a row the Australian chase down 300 plus targets and thus they lead the series 2-0

 

Over 49

One from the first ball

A couple down the ground from the second ball

Two to Maxwell as he mistimes a big shot but the ball falls in no mans land

Maxwell misses this time and it is a dot ball

FOUR! A short arm pull and the scores are level

One run to point and Australia win

Over 48

Sran to bowl

Four from the over

Australia 299-3

 

Over 47

Ishant to bowl

Wide down the leg

FOUR! Bailey smacks Ishant over the cow corner and takes Australia closer to the target

Jadeja just couldn't reach a mistimed cut from Bailey. It had gone up in the air but the spinner couldn't grab the catch in spite of his best efforts

Wide again

Australia 295-3

 

Over 46

Jadeja to roll his arm over

Keeps it tight. Six runs from the over

 

Over 45

Ishant to bowl

Seven runs from the over

Australia 278-3

Over 44

SIX! Bailey welcomes Sran to the crease with a mighty six over long off

FOUR! Bailey waits for the short delivery and lifts it over point for a boundary

Australia 271-3

 

Over 43

Umesh  to bowl

Maxwell drives to extra cover boundary and takes three

FOUR! Bailey goes for a mighty heave, it finds his outside edge and just evades Dhoni's outstretched hands to run into the fence

Australia 258-3

Over 41

Umesh to bowl

OUT! Smith knocked over. Tries to be too smart, shows his stumps again and Umesh's delivery is straight and fast. It hits the top of off and middle and the Indian team is pumped

Australia 244-3

 

Over 40

Ishant to Bailey

FOUR! Bailey gets an inside edge and the balls runs to the boundary as short fine leg chases it aimlessly

FOUR! That's total carnage from Smith. Makes room and spanks it past Ishant for a boundary

One run to mid off for Smith

Australia 238-2

 

 

 

 

Over 39

Umesh to run in

Smith takes one to mid wicket

Quick running from Bailey and Smith as the duo convert a one into two after Bailey plays to deep point

Bailey takes one after playing to mid off

Australia 227-2

Over 38

Ashwin to bowl

Bailey takes one run to long on 

Smith lofts one to long on and takes two

FOUR! Smith makes room and cuts the ball between point and third man for a boundary

Australia 222-2

 

Over 37

FOUR! George Bailey at his best. Moves to the leg side and thwacks a short delivery to the on side boundary

Bailey tries to guide that to third man but fails to make any contact.

One run for bailey to third man 211-2

Over 36

Ashwin back in the attack

Smith plays to mid wicket and rushes back for the second run

Smith sweeps for a single

Australia 203-5

 

Over 35

Kohli to bowl

FOUR! Smith punishes a short ball by piercing the gap between long on  and mid wicket

Over 33

FOUR! George Bailey straight drives Sran for a boundary

Australia 190-2

Over 30

OUT! Marsh gone this time. Tries to manoeuvre an Ishant Sharma delivery on the leg side but plays it a touch too early and it takes the edge of the bat and scoops up on the off side, Virat Kohli  completes an easy catch.

Over 28

DROPPED! Indians are throwing it away. Shaun Marsh lucky again. Ishant Sharma gets the left hander to edge one to the slip cordon but Pandey spills the catch as he dived to his right while standing in the second slip position. Those catches should be taken at this level. 

Australia 163-1

Over 27

FOUR! Steve Smith dances down the track and flicks it on the leg side. Manish Pandey dives but the ball escapes his outstretched hands and goes into the fence

Australia 156-1

Over 25

OUT! India are right back in it. Finch is gone. jadeja flights it up and the Australian tries to loft it over the extra cover fence, instead he mistimes and the ball goes to long off, Rahane runs in from the boundary, puts a full blooded dive and takes the catch. Umpires check with the the third umpire whether the catch was clean or not. Third umpire confirms it's as clean as water.

Australia 145-1

Over 24

DROPPED! Brilliant try by Barinder Sran at the fine leg boundary but he fails to hold on to the catch of Shaun Marsh

Australia 142-0

 

Over 23

FOUR! That's short from Jadeja and Finch goes on the back foot to cut it past short third man for a boundary

FOUR! Finch on one knee, lifts Jadeja between long on  and mid wicket for yet another boundary

Over 22

Trouble at the non-striker's end. Marsh played it to short fine leg and then hesitated to run. Finch was three fourths of the way down before he began. The throw was sharp and Ashwin got out of the way but it missed the stumps.

Over the top by Finch again, fielder stops it near the fence, goes over and then comes back in to stop it trickling in.

FOUR. Short, wide, cut away through gully for four.

Sweep now, edged onto pad but a single to short fine leg.

Another single to long off, 11 off the over. Australia 120/0 after 22 overs.

Over 21

7 runs from the last Ashwin over. Ishant put in a poor fielding effort also.

Umesh Yadav continues.

Inside edged onto the pads and Marsh runs one. He is limping now for some reason. 

FOUR. Just slightly too straight, and played fine by Finch for four.

FOUR. Good length outside off and Finch hits hard over mid off, on the up. Gets it well over and four. Aussie hundred up.

SIX. Lifted off the pads, into the skies. The fielder at deep midwicket is a spectator. Umesh has been hammered. 16 off the over.

Australia 109/0 after 21 overs.

Over 19

Marsh taps the ball down and sets off, Umesh rushes towards it, picks it up and throws at the bowler's end. Marsh however, gets in the way of the throw.

Short and outside off, rises, but Finch somehow pulls it over midwicket. Not great timing because Umesh is fast. Just two runs in the end on this huge ground.

#IndvsAus Ishant Sharma dropped Shaun Marsh to make sure in form batsman Steve Smith doesn't come on to the crease. #Respect#IndvsAus

— Anshul Dhillon (@anshul_dhillon) January 15, 2016

Single off the last ball. 4 off the over. Australia 86/0 after 19 overs. It's drinks.

Over 18

Two off four balls as Ashwin continues. He misfields the fourth allowing a single.

Single to square leg.

Four off the over, Australia 82/0 after 18 overs.

Over 17

FOUR. Umesh Yadav has replaced Jadeja. Weird decision again. Short and crashed through extra cover.

On the pads, Marsh misses the flick but gets one. India need a wicket to turn the screws a bit.

Same kind of delivery to the right hander, same result. Another Indian has a shy at the bowler's end though.

FOUR. Bad line, very bad. Way outside leg, and Marsh only has to guide it for four to fine leg. It speeds away.

Single, 11 off 5 balls now.

11 off the over, Australia 79/0.

Over 16

The spinners are not giving much width to the Aussie batsmen.

Finch and Warner are mostly scoring by backing off or drawing away from the stumps right now. There is a sense of urgency, something has got to give.

4 off the over, a good over from Ashwin. Australia 68/0 after 16 overs.

Over 15

Jadeja into his 3rd.

2 singles off the first 2 balls. The required rate is inching up to 7.

This pitch seems to be slightly more conducive to the Indian spinners than the last one in Perth.

Six off the over, Australia 64/0 after 15 overs.

Over 13

DROPPED. The frustration had paid off, Marsh advanced down the track, tried to hit Jadeja over long on, but hit it right into Ishant's hands. Only that Ishant dropped it. DROPPED A DOLLY. The horror. And then he falls down comically. His eyes were in the air when the ball was in his hand.

Ishant Sharma picked, Ishant Sharma dropped #IndvsAus

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) January 15, 2016

Three off the over, Australia 51/0 after 13 overs.

Over 12

Spin from both ends? Ashwin is in.

Marsh uses his feet to the third ball to pinch a single at sweeper cover.

Swept fine by Finch, but just one. Another good piece of fielding by Jadeja, this time at fine leg.

Oh. Ashwin deceives Marsh in the flight as he looked to advance. Ball hits pad.

Quick single last ball. Australia 48/0 after 12 overs.

Over 11

Ravindra Jadeja introduced. Sran should have had one more over.

The floodgates could open now.

Single to short fine leg.

5 off the over, Australia 45/0 after 11.

Over 10

Umesh Yadav replaces Ishant Sharma.

First two balls have been too wide, and twice some great cover fielding has saved Umesh.

Ah the irony. Much better line, straighter, and now cover misfields to allow a single.

Marsh drives into the covers, straight to Kohli, who puts in an aggressive throw, ball misses the stumps. Deano thinks its an outrage but takes back his words after replays show Finch could have been run out.

End of the over, Australia 40/0.

Over 9

Another good over so far from Sran, 2 off 4 balls and the best length and line.

Oh, slightly on the shorter side this time, but Marsh pulls it hard to short midwicket. Good fielding.

Just 2 off the over, Australia 38/0 after 9 overs.

Over 8

Short and wide again from Ishant, Marsh cuts it hard through cover point. The fielder from deep point runs after it like a hare, and the long boundary means Australia are restricted to three.

Good ball, good length on off and moves back in sharply, brushes the inside edge of Finch's bat and then onto pad.

Now slightly wide, Finch won't go after it as it curves back in.

4 off the over, Australia 36/0 after 8.

Over 7

Finch smashes a fullish delivery from Sran down the ground, but no timing.

Two runs off the fifth ball. Good over so far.

Looks like scoring rate continues to be a problem for India in second ODI too... Will be difficult to defend this target. #IndvsAus

— Krishnakumar P (@krishp) January 15, 2016

Single off the last ball, three runs from it only. Australia 32/0 after 7 overs.

A wicket will do brilliantly here.

Over 5

Beautiful ball from Sran. On off, moves away off the pitch and in the air, and Finch nearly edges it.

And he does it again. Ooohs from the crowd.

And now Finch edges the ball back onto his pads. Great line and length.

Rapped on the pad this time. The line was slightly straighter and Finch went for the flick. Inside edge saved him, and he got a single.

Good line to Marsh too to finish off the over. They think of a single, but the ball goes to Jadeja and Marsh reconsiders. Great over. 25/0 after 5 overs.

Over 4

Ishant begins with another wide.

Again, he finds the right length and line. Now can he keep it up?

Short and wide, Marsh slaps it hard to point, and right on the bounce to Jadeja.

FOUR. Poor line again, strays on middle and leg, Marsh gets enough bat on it to send it to the fine leg fence.

Short, smashed again to Jadeja, just short of him this time. Good diving stop, and then he roars for some reason. Crowd is hyped. Australia 24/0 after 4 overs.

Over 3

Sran bangs the ball in short, good line and length, smashes Marsh just below the chest.

Two runs off three balls so far.

Outside off, well outside off, and Finch has a nice go at it, misses.

Finch has a terrible average against left arm seamers - 14.

Two off the last ball, Australia 19/0 after 3 overs.

Over 2

Ishant Sharma.

Full, outside off, and Marsh drives for three through covers.

Now a lot of swing, but quick and down leg side. Wide ball.

Again, same ball, same call from the umpire.

Again down leg side, but Finch had moved across and the ball clipped pad on the way. Muted appeal from Dhoni.

Inside edge onto the pads, much better line. Swing in from off.

Again the same line, Finch clips it in the air over square leg for one. He needs to get slightly wider still, Ishant.

Outside off and good length, Marsh leaves.

Good ball, he finds the right line at the end, pitches on off, moves across the left hander and Finch has a shy before letting it go. Australia 15/0 after 2 overs.

Over 1

Wide ball first up from Barindar Sran.

Short, good bounce, and Finch pulls it heavily to short backward square leg for no run.

309 last innings, now 308. India following odd-even formula in ODI #IndvsAus #DelhiOddEven

— Kushagr Agarwal (@kushagragarwal) January 15, 2016

FOUR. Oh, too short now, sits up well outside off, and Finch smashes it for four through midwicket.

FOUR. Another poor ball, on the legs, hip high, tickled away for four by Finch.

Better length and line, just outside off, Finch leaves. Australia 9/0 after 1 over.

Over 50

John Hastings.

Ashwin down the track, ball is good length, he taps it to the off side for one.

Another single, the Indians in the crowd boo.

OUT! Ashwin moves all over the crease, then tries to scoop it behind the keeper. Gets the top edge and short third man takes it. India 306/7.

Umesh Yadav is the new man.

Single down the ground, can't come for two.

But wait, a bad throw results in a couple.

Jadeja tries a cute Dilscoop, and the ball goes to the keeper. Appeal but he had not hit it.

India continues to deliver dismal death batting performance match after match. Sadly, the bowlers are known to deliver the same #IndvsAus

— Yatharth Chauhan (@yatharth10) January 15, 2016

OUT! Run out, Jadeja hit the ball straight down at Hastings, and ran anyway. He was always gonna be run out. Hastings skips towards the bowler's end and knocks off the stumps. India 308/8 after 50 overs.

India finish on 308/8 off 50 overs. Once again they are at least 20 short of where they would like to be, and perhaps they should have got 340 after that start. This is now becoming a habitual issue now for India, they can't score well in the last 15 overs.

Over 49

Manish Pandey gets one to third man. India are missing that big hitter that all good teams have in their ODI middle order these days.

Full toss, sliced over point for two by Rahane.

OUT! Rahane is gone, he advances, tries to get the ball for six over deep midwicket, extra bounce and perhaps he got a bit close to the ball. Caught at wide long on. Made 89 off 80.

FOUR. Wide and full, Manish Pandey almost goes full horizontal over it and smacks the ball to the fence at deep point. 300 up for India.

Dear @BCCI therz only class In the middle & lower middle order. Guess v need som fire power as well. Guys like yuvi n raina wud do #IndvsAus

— Andhrawala (@andhrawala) January 15, 2016

OUT. Bad shot. Full outside off, just scoops it down the ground, bottom hand comes off and flails wildly, Pandey holes out at long off.

Two off the last ball and 2 wickets in the over. India 304/6 off 49 overs.

Over 48

Yorker outside off first ball, Rahane misses.

Two off the second ball.

Two off the third. If the old rule had subsisted, that would have been four. Now they have 5 fielders outside the circle in the final 10.

FOUR. Full toss on middle, Rahane swings it over midwicket for four.

Two to the on side now, 10 off the over so far. They need 20 + off the last 13 balls at a minimum.

Gets two off the last ball as well. India 295/4 after 48 overs.

Over 47

India is missing a player like Yuvraj Singh in the end. Well played Rohit Sharma though #IndvsAus

— Mordant Indian (@Mordant_Indian) January 15, 2016

Two off the first three balls of the over, including a risky single.

FOUR. Rahane has a huge swing at the ball, miscues, ball flies behind the keeper and has enough legs to make the fence.

Single off the last ball, just 7 off the over, India 283/4 after 47.

 

Over 46

OUT! Dhoni is gone, he went for the big shot over long on, doesn't get all of it, holes out at long on. 11 off 10. India struggling in the final overs again.

India 276/4 after 46 overs.

Over 43

SIX. Rahane steps forth, one foot forth, and hammers a returning Faulkner staight onto the sightscreen for six.

OUT! Rohit Sharma is gone. Very unlucky. Rahane smacks the ball straight back, Faulkner almost inadvertently gets a hand to it and the ball goes onto the bowler's stumps. Rohit is out of his crease. Again a wicket at the wrong time. India 255/3.

Single from Rahane gets the strike to Dhoni. He has to attack.

Short, pulled away to deep midwicket for one.

Single off the fifth ball, again Faulkner tries to stop it.

 

Over 42

FOUR. Great shot. Slower ball, but Rohit just flicks it over all of the off side in field, wide of deep point for four. Almost a six.

Very tall bouncer, called a wide.

Driven down the ground for one. They need to attack the second ball after hitting the first to the fence. It's not the 2000s anymore.

Rahane got to his fifty in the last over and the partnership crossed 100.

Rohit was inching for the big shot, but the ball is outside leg and wide.

Rohit gives room now, and the bowler follows him. Just a single.

Edged, can't really beat short third man, just a single. 10 off the over. India 249/2.

Over 40

FOUR. Rahane puts a couple of steps forward, then hits the ball through extra cover, uppishly but well for four.

FOUR. On the legs, Rahane flicks it perfectly, ball is rushing to the fence, the fielder Hastings tries his best but lands inside the boundary along with the ball.

Fired outside leg, Rahane gets bat on it and not called wide.

Single to long on.

Single to long leg.

Single off the last ball, 11 off the over, India 233/2.

Over 39

John Hastings is the new bowler.

Dropped. Rahane hits straight back and its too wide for Hastings to hold on to.

Still just tapping the ball around. Are they waiting for the traditional 40 overs?

Down the track comes Rahane, Hastings fires it wide, but it's too wide and its a WIDE.

Thinks of the upper cut, misses.

Straight down the ground, just a single.

FOUR. Brilliant shot. On middle and off, good length ball, Rohit hits it a little square of square leg, and he beats the man from midwicket running in.

FOUR. Tries it again, succeeds. This time he was giving some room, ball was slightly shorter. Rohit hit it even squarer for four.

India 222/2 after 39 overs.

Over 38

Rohit flicks to the on side for two. It's time to attack.

Again an inside edge, just a single this time.

Another single down the ground. C'mon guys.

Almost a yorker, hit to square leg for one.

Hard flick into the leg side, Rahane was going for a suicidal second run but recovered in time.

Just 6 off the over, India 211/2 after 38 overs. 

Over 37

I have no idea why Rahane is not on the attack. 

FOUR. I said it, and Rahane dances down the pitch, clears midwicket, and the ball races to the deep midwicket fence. 200 up.

Now a single to third man and Rohit is on 99.

HUNDRED. Another single to third man and now Rohit has consecutive centuries in Australia!

Fifth hundred v/s Australia.

Flat track but a very good innings with some lovely shots. Matured innings as an anchor too. Gotta go big now @ImRo45 #IndvsAus

— Kaushik (@GoonerCule) January 15, 2016

Rahane gets a single to third man and now Rohit has a chance to have a go at the last ball.

No, he gets a single and keeps strike. India 205/2 after 37 overs.

Over 35

One off three balls so far.

Short and wide, but just a single for Rohit in the deep.

Sharma has an average of 75 against Australia.

Rahane goes after a wide ball and misses. The round the wicket angle is causing trouble I think.

Just 3 off the over, India 194/2 after 35 overs. Drinks time again.

Over 34

FOUR. Oh what a shot. Rahane has taken the ball on the full, slower ball, and just scooped it straight over everyone's heads for four. Minimum strength, maximum effect.

Now he gets a single to rotate strike.

Rohit is on 96. He needs to get to a century quickly.

Oh, Rohit scoops the ball down the ground, just past the flailing hand of Faulkner, but he cannot beat a deep mid on which comes running in. Just one.

Beautiful drive, blocked by the covers and goes down to long off, just one.

India 191/2 after 34 overs.

Over 33

Rohit Sharma has reached 94.

Just a single off the fourth ball. 1 off 4 balls this over.

Very good running, but just 3 off the over. India 183/2.

Over 30

Maxwell is bowling really well. Two dot balls.

Now a drive down the ground for one.

Oh. Rohit goes inside out, the ball lands in front of a long on that was rushing in. 

4 off the over again, India 166/2.

Over 28

Three runs from five balls so far this over.

Single to the deep, India get 4 singles.

155/1 after 28 overs.

Over 27

John Hastings is the bowler.

For some reason the crowd is very excited now.

5 off the over, India 151/2 after 27 overs.

Over 26

Two singles from three balls. Scott Boland is back.

Rahane drives straight back at Boland and gets a bit of action from the bowler.

4 off the over, India 146/2 after 26 overs.

Over 25

FOUR. Good lord. So close to the stumps. A centimetre or two from the stumps off that Rohit inside edge. Two set batsmen in two overs would have been a heist. The ball runs away fine for four.

Hastings is mad.

Beautiful cover drive from Rohit gets two. India 142/2 after 25 overs.

Over 24

Two off the first ball of the 24th over, one off the second.

FOUR. Down the track, ball outside off and full, and Kohli drives firmly for four through covers.

OUT! Run out against the run of play! Kohli is short. Gifted his wicket away just when India were starting to attack. He pulled to long leg and set off, called Rohit for the second, and then was run out to a sharp throw. Even the famous Kohli dive wasn't enough.

India's run rate was moving towards six. Now we just don't know.

Kohli run out. Can we expect a 3rd double hundred from Rohit today?  #IndvsAus @bhogleharsha

— Ameya Dalvi (@ameyadalvi) January 15, 2016

India 134/2 after 24 overs. Ajinkya Rahane is the new batsman.

Over 23

SIX! What a terrific shot by Rohit! On the front foot, short ball, and Rohit has hit that right off the meat of the bat, into the midwicket fence, flat six.

Wide ball next from Richardson.

SIX! Now Richardson goes full, and Rohit smashes him straight down the ground for six. Pure hit again, much fun.

Two singles off the last two balls. 15 off the over, India 125/1 after 23.

Over 22

Very good running from Virat Kohli. Running hard to the danger end after tapping the ball to mid off. He even comes back for the second on the overthrow.

Wasim said, 'Run Virat run'. Lol.

India need to start attacking.

FOUR. Now some signs of aggression. Down the track, good length on middle and Kohli smacks it through a diving cover for four.

50 for Virat Kohli also.

50 for virat toooo #IndvsAus pic.twitter.com/LZ7UB0mTux

— kalyan ram indian (@kalyanramindian) January 15, 2016

India 110/1 after 22 overs.

Over 20

Rohit is Mr. Hitman Virat is Mr. Consistence #INDvsAUS

— Jaanvi|Viratian (@viratkohli18fan) January 15, 2016

India are dealing in singles now. 2 singles off 4 balls.

Again, on the pads, Rohit can't put it away for four.

Inside edge, played without feet, almost onto the stumps. India 99/1 after 20 overs.

Over 19

Single to the on side and Rohit Sharma gets to 50.

India will look to Rohit for the big hundred. Only issue might be the pace of his innings.

No run off the last ball, India 97/1 after 19 overs.

Over 18

Maxwell continues, a single off the first ball. India have to exploit him.

FOUR. Sweep shot to deep square leg. Kohli finally gets Maxwell away.

Down the track in a hurry, and Kohli hits straight on the bounce to short cover.

Swept uppishly over square leg, the ball loses momentum and bounces backwards as it lands, two runs. 10 off the over.

India 92/1 after 18 overs.

Over 17

Three runs off three balls off the over. Faulkner is the new bowler.

India have to ensure they get enough runs in these middle overs.

FOUR. Short, sits up a bit, and Rohit pulls it hard to the on side fence. 

End of the over, India 82/1.

Over 16

Down the track comes Kohli, no run.

Oh. Rohit drives in the air, it drops just short of Finch at cover point.

Rohit is missing out on some Maxwell dollies today.

India 74/1 after 16 overs.

Over 15

Kohli swivel pulls Scott Boland for one.

Just 3 off the over, India 72/1 after 15 overs.

Over 14

Off spinner Glenn Maxwell into the attack.

Outside leg, Rohit can only sweep it to fine leg for one. The old timers would have been furious.

Another ball on leg stump, swept to long leg for one.

FOUR. This time the ball is straighter, Rohit sweeps, gets a bottom edge and the ball goes fine for four.

On the legs again and straight to square leg.

Flighted delivery, inside out drive, straight to cover point. Lots of missed chances this over for Rohit. India 69/1 after 14.

Over 13

Oh. Now Kohli gets an outside edge, but he has played with soft hands and it lands halfway between the batsman and Smith at first slip.

Ball rises on Sharma, he however is able to keep it down for a single to third man.

Shikar Dhawan is the Tushar Kapoor of Indian Cricket team #IndvsAus

— praveen rajora (@impraveenrajora) January 15, 2016

Kohli flicks to backward square leg and calls for two, they run very fast.

India 63/2 after 13 overs. 

Over 12

FOUR. Beautiful straight drive from Virat Kohli, leans into the ball on off stump, drives picture perfect down the ground.

50 partnership comes up with a single from Kohli.

India 59/1 after 12 overs.

Over 10

Now Rohit tries to drive Hastings into oblivion, not the greatest ball but Rohit is losing focus.

Slashed hard Rohit, and gets a single to third man.

Just one off the over. India 47/1 after 10 overs.

Over 9

Scott Boland is the new bowler.

Beaten by late swing, was Rohit, he hung his bat out just outside off.

FOUR. Wild shot, a pull almost out of anger, huge top edge, the ball flies towards third man. But it is fine and he cannot get around for a catch. He then fumbles and allows a boundary.

Another loose shot from Rohit, driving on the backfoot without foot movement. He's lost his concentration a bit.

India 46/1 after 9 overs.

Over 8

Hastings has been brought into the attack, quite hastily. 

Sharply brought in, Rohit misses the flick, big appeal, no run.

One to backward point.

India 41/1 after 8 overs.

Over 7

Rohit has 21 in 21 suddenly.

Kohli drives well into the covers but straight to cover.

Swivel pulled in front of midwicket for two. 

Brain fade? Kohli rushes down the track, slower one, he inside edges it to backward short leg, no run.

India 38/1 after 7 overs.

Over 6

Richardson continues in his pure fast bowler's avatar.

FOUR. Wide, slightly short, and Rohit has just taken the cover off it as he smashed it through point. It was imperious, up in the air but went so fast that Maxwell at backward point didn't even have time to think.

Paris to Rohit : AUS A to IND Paris to Dhawan : AUS to IND A . #IndvsAus #AUSvIND

— Mr PerFAKEtionist (@parthology) January 15, 2016

SIX. The bats are so amazing these days that a top-edged flick from the hips goes for six behind the wicket, even at the Gabba. Rohit is delighted.

India 34/1 after 6 overs.

Over 5

Wide ball, then a tap into the covers for one.

OH. Big outside edge from Kohli, he went for a hard front foot defence. It bounces a long way in front of Steve Smith at first slip, and Deano is angry with the bounce.

India 23/1 after 5 overs.

Over 4

FOUR. Haha. Too short, too wide from Kane Richardson. Rohit is half forward, half back, and he slashes it over point and past an on rushing third man for four.

Beautiful cover drive this time from Rohit, pierces the off side with ease, and only the HUGE boundary prevents the boundary, if you will. 3 runs.

Now Kohli gets a single to long leg.

India 19/1 after 4 overs.

Over 3

FOUR. Width, Shikhar Dhawan just dismisses it through the covers for four in a rage.

OUT! Gone, bad shot. This was slightly shorter than the previous one. Width again, but Shikhar is half-forward for this cut, and a big edge takes it easily to the keeper.

And the Dhawan imbroglio continues ! He hits a fine boundary and nicks back in the next ! #IndvsAus

— Ved Prakash Pati (@vppati) January 15, 2016

Virat Kohli comes in.

Dhawan's tragic run continues.

Kohli drives for two. India 11/1 after 3 overs.

Over 2

Kane Richardson is the new bowler. Looks a bit like a Greek god. Bowls a wide first ball. No, almost.

Decent carry and bounce on this wicket, but not the greatest Gabba wicket ever.

Another inside edge from Rohit.

Dean Jones remembers the Gabba of the time he played in. Needless to say the bounce was much greater.

Rohit hangs his bat outside, hint of swing, no run. Maiden over, India 5/0 after 2 overs.

The first over is underway.

Over 1

Joel Paris to Rohit Sharma, underedge onto the pads from Sharma and the ball trickles away.

Gentle pick up shot over the on side for two, but the ball slows down after landing. Two runs.

Ah, outside edge this time, some good movement from middle and leg outwards, and Rohit's feet weren't in the best position as he tried to play this onto the on side. One run.

Short, wide, Dhawan slaps it past point, and gets two as the third man comes rushing in.

India 5/0 after 1 over.