Team India will resume on 250 for 9 on Day 2 of the ongoing first Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval on Friday.
Team India will resume on 250 for 9 on Day 2 of the ongoing first Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval on Friday.
Cheteshwar Pujara rose to the occasion with a maiden century in Australia, his 16th overall, pulling India out of a deep hole after the visitors got reduced to 127 for six in the 50th over.
India vs Australia, 1st Test: Full commentary & scorecard
Pujara showed the same grit and gumption that is typical of him en route a 246-ball 123 and also notched up 5,000 Test runs.
It took a brilliant direct from Pat Cummins to remove him on what happened to be the final ball of an absorbing day one of the four-Test series.
Indian captain Virat Kohli won the toss and opted to bat in ideal conditions but the top-order once again failed to apply themselves against the potent pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Cummins.
The likes of KL Rahul, Murali Vijay, Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma threw away their wickets by making an atrocious choice of shot and that made a massive difference in the score at stumps of Day 1. Had Pujara not stepped up, the Indians still wouldn't be batting on Day 2 at the Adelaide Oval.
India vs Australia:
Australia XI: Aaron Finch, Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Tim Paine (c/wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
India's squad: Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami
1. India's hero on Day 1 - Che Pujara!
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The duo of Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah will walk out to resume India's innings at the Adelaide Oval on Day 2 of the ongoing first Test on Friday. The Indians are able to bat even on the second day is solely because of one man - Cheteshwara Pujara - who took the matter on his own hand after the other batsmen disappointed one after the another. He scored his maiden ton on the Australian soils and overall 16th Test ton, India ended Day one at 250 for 9 and apart from Travis Head in the Aussie camp, all the other bowlers had two wickets each - Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood and Lyon. PC: Reuters
2. India all-out!
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Not exactly the best of Hazlewood's deliveries but he strikes on the first ball of Day 2! Tim Paine behind the wickets takes an excellent catch down the leg side, Shami goes for 6 off 10 and India here are all out for 250. Hazlewood finishes with most wickets among the Aussies bowlers this innings with three scalps to his name, while Starc, Lyon and Cummins bagged two wickets each on Day 1.
Mohammed Shami c Tim Paine b Josh Hazlewood 6(10)
India 250 all-out in Overs 88
Australia's chase will begin in a while.
3. Aussies' innings begin
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Aaron Finch and debutant Marcus Harris have made their way into the middle to begin Australia's innings in response to India's 250 all-out in the first innings. Meanwhile, Ishant Sharma has the ball, will open the bowling for the tourists. PC: AFP
4. OUT! Ishant strikes!
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Hazlewood strikes the first ball of the day and that brings the Aussies to bat. Finch on the strike and with just three deliveries into the Aussie innings, Ishant Sharma ruthlessly rattles his stumps. Ironically, Finch joins the club of KL Rahul, Murali Vijay, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, as he also tries to drive the ball. Why so early, Finch? He pays for the blunder, walks back to the pavilion for a three-ball duck after getting his leg and off stump flying in the air. That sight is something Finch will not forget for a while and that might be a lesson for him.
Aaron Finch b Ishant Sharma 0(3)
Australia 7/1 Overs 2
5. Ashwin makes a breakthrough
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As Marcus Harris and Usman Khawaja were slowly building a partnership, it was necessary for the Indians to stop that and just like always, Ashwin took the charge. The turn does the trick for Ashwin, the debutant reads it late and as he pushes it, he only manages to get a thick edge that flies straight into the safe hands of Murali Vijay at silly point. No mistake there, it was a sitter for Vijay. Shaun Marsh is the new batsman for the Aussies now.
It was a decent debut from Harris, whose stance and stature have reminded us of David Warner, Australia's other opener who is serving a year's ban right now.
Australia 47/2 Overs 24
Marcus Harris c Murali Vijay b Ravi Ashwin 26(57)
6. 50 up for Australia and lunch
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After a terrible start from the Aussies, they settled in well in the first session. Ishant Sharma struck third ball of their innings by thrashing Finch's leg and off-stumps. But then their No. 3 Usman Khawaja, who has been in a great touch, has brought some stability in their innings. He built a 45-run stand with the other opener Marcus Harris before the latter was sent back by Ravi Ashwin.
The hosts ended the first session at 57 for 2 with Khawaja and Shaun Marsh at the crease. For India, Ishant and Ashwin were the wicket-takers. The Marsh Sr will have to stick around with Khawaja in order to put Australia again on the top.
Australia 57/2 Overs 27
7. Shaun Marsh throws away his wicket
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If the worst shot of the match is going to be recognised by awarding the batsman, then Shaun Marsh has certainly joined the race. Not sure who has been the worst so far, Rahul, Vijay, Kohli, Rahane, Rohit or now Marsh Sr? Ashwin bowls a half-volley, there is enough width and that probably tempts Marsh to drive it. He could have chosen not to but he doesn't and gets an inside edge and the ball falls back onto his stumps. Ashwin has a cheeky smile, he knows it's a big wicket. Since the start of the Ashes last year, Marsh averages 74.33 in home Tests, and 13.41 in away Tests. So certainly a big wicket here for India.
Australia 64/3 Overs 30, still trail by 186 runs.
Shaun Marsh b Ravi Ashwin 2(19)
8. Massive breakthrough for India, Khawaja out
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Ricky Ponting before the start of the Border-Gavaskar trophy opined that Aussie No. 3 Usman Khawaja will pip Virat Kohli as the leading run-scorer and living up to the hype, Khawaja showed immense patience and responsibility, especially when the hosts had lost two quick wickets. It needed a special effort to break his resistance and once again, it was Ashwin who did the job for India. Ashwin bowled an extremely slow delivery and the flight did the trick for him. Khawaja reacted late but ended up getting a faint edge that went straight into the gloves of Rishabh Pant, who was more than convinced of the dismissal but umpire Dharmasena was not. DRS was taken and a tiny spot on the HotSpot was enough to convince the umpire as well.
Australia 88/4 Overs 42 Overs
9. 100 up for the Aussies
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Even though the Australians have lost four wickets, at every stage, there was someone who made a crucial contribution before falling to the Indian bowlers. Apart from Finch, who suffered a three-ball duck in the very first over, all the others have done a decent job if not great. First, it was Khawaja and debutant Marcus Harris who shared a 45-run stand before the later got out. Then, Khawaja shared small stands with Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb. Indian spinner Ashwin has been the pick of the lot as he removed Marsh, Marcus and set batsman Khawaja. Right now, Handscomb looks good and is en route gritty innings and all Australia want here it that he does not throw away his wicket.
100/4 - Overs 47.1
10. Bumrah's first in Australia!
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OUT! In his maiden Test on the Australian soils, Bumrah picks his first but the best part about this is the timing as Handscomb was looking good. It was a poor shot from the Aussie; he wants to push the ball to the third man but instead gets an outside edge and the ball goes behind to the keeper. Pant has been sharp behind the wickets, has not messed up this as he had with the willow during India's innings. PC: BCCI Twitter
11. Ishant's 50th Test wicket vs Australia!
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Aussie skipper Tim Paine becomes Ishant's 50th Test wicket against Australia. The pacer hits the right length and pace and generates a nick from Paine's bat that goes into Pant's gloves. It was Pant's third catch of the innings as the young keeper continues to impress behind the wickets.
Australia 140/6, Overs 66, still trail by 110 runs
Tim Paine c Pant b Ishant 5(20)
12. A courageous FIFTY from Travis Head!
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In the 73rd over, Kohli hands the ball to part-timer Murali Vijay, who begins with two dot balls. The third ball is short, outside off, which is cut by Head to deep cover-point for a single and runs for a single bringing up his maiden Test fifty at home. For someone who is playing his just third Test, a innings of this kind in a pressure situation will do wonders for his confidence in the coming days. PC: AFP
Australia 170/6 Overs 77, still trail by 80 runs
13. Bumrah strikes with the new ball
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Travis Head and Pat Cummins end the 80th over by bringing up their crucial 50-run stand. The umpire informs the Indian skipper that the second new ball is now available and Kohli straightaways takes it. He throws the ball to Bumrah and sets slips and a gully expecting for edges. Three balls later, Bumrah does the job for India and Kohli but in an even better way. At a speed over 142KMPH, Bumrah pins it just under the knee roll and instantly knows that he had got rid of Cummins. The batsman just tries to leave it alone and is trapped LBW here.
Australia 182/7, still trail by 68 runs.
14. STUMPS!
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Shami to Head, pushes the ball to covers and the umpire signals end of day's play. As he and Starc walk off the field, the Adelaide-born Head receives a standing ovation from his locals for his fantastic 149-ball 61 runs and ensured the hosts didn't get bowled out today itself. The Australians ended Day 2 at a run-rate of 2.17 and undoubtedly, the second day of the Adelaide Test 2018 will always be remembered for one of Australia's slowest batting displays in the 20th century.
Australia 191/7, still trail by 59 runs.
