AUS vs IND, Day 2 Report: Despite a counter-attacking knock of an unbeaten 73 from Australian skipper Tim Paine, the home team were unable to end the day on a high as they ended 53 runs behind India in their first innings. Led by a four-wicket haul from Ravi Ashwin, the Indian bowlers were on their mark throughout the day as they troubled the rivals with their accurate lengths and lines.
At 111 for 7 at one stage, the visiting team would have hoped for a 100 run-plus lead, but Paine stitched crucial partnerships with Mitchell Starc (16 runs) and Josh Hazlewood, before they were eventually out for 191. The skipper threatened to reduce the lead further with his drives, reverse sweeps and sweeps as he got to a quick fifty, but the Indians ended the day well ahead despite losing Prithvi Shaw in the second leg.
After the fast bowlers had done a fine job, it was Ashwin who stole the show. In just his first over of the tour, the spinner got the wicket of Steve Smith as he nicked a quicker, straighter delivery to slip. The rest of the spell was spectacular, as he got the wickets of Travis Head (caught and bowled as he was beaten in flight) and Cameron Green (caught off a stunning catch by Virat Kohli at mid wicket).
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The innings was also in the news for India’s dismal fielding effort that saw Marnus Labuschagne dropped twice. The number 3 batsman scored 46 and he was finally dismissed as Umesh Yadav got him plumb in front off a ball that kept low. The fast bowler sent back Umesh Yadav in the same over, which raised hopes for a triple-figure lead before Paine squashed those hopes with a brilliant innings.
Earlier in the day, the Indian lower order batters were unable to pile on quick runs as they were bowled out after adding just 11 runs and facing 25 deliveries. All eyes were on Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami thereafter – the architects of India’s last win Down Under in 2018-19. Umesh and Bumrah started off with lines that were outside the off stump as a cautious Australian team took as many as five overs to open the side’s account. The new pair of openers Matthew Wade and Joe Burns, however, were determined to grit it out and only scored runs off the balls that were slightly wide or short on occasions. The Aussies looked all set to end the session without losing a wicket before Kohli introduced Bumrah into the attack.
The pacer from Baroda was on the mark as far as his lines were concerned. He aimed to attack the stumps more often, and the ploy worked wonders as he got the two opening batsmen out in quick succession. Both Burns and Wade were trapped LBW, with the Decision Review System going in favour of the umpire’s call both times.
The wickets meant that India entered the second session of the day with their noses ahead. Ashwin stole the show as the Aussies crawled to get runs on the board before Paine tried his best to tilt the favour.
Brief Scores of AUS vs IND, Day 2: India 244 (Virat Kohli 74, C Pujara 43, A Rahane 42; M Starc 4-53, Pat Cummins 3-48)and 9/1 (Pat Cummins 1-6)lead Australia 191 all out (Tim Paine 73*, Marnus Labuschagne 47; R Ashwin 4-55, Umesh Yadav 3-40) trail by 62 runs
