India have ended the third day’s play at 151-3, thus extending their lead to 166 runs against Australia in the second innings of the opening Test at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
The visitors made a slow start to their second innings, with KL Rahul (44) and Murali Vijay (18) leaving all outside-off deliveries initially.However, after playing the first 10 overs cautiosly, runs started flowing in for India with Rahul notching up a few boundaries.
After Rahul and Vijay were dismissed in quick successions following a crucial 50-run opening stand, Indian skipper Virat Kohli and top-order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara stitched a crucial partnership of 71 runs to keep the scoreboard ticking at a slow pace.
Despite good bowling performances and a number of maiden overs, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood could only add a wicket each to their account.
Earlier, Australia were bundled out for 235 runs in reply to India’s first innings total of 250 after rain played the spoilsport and delayed the start of the play.
At stumps, Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane were batting on the crease at their respective scores of 40 and one.
Here are the highlights:
# Stumps
That’s Stumps on Day 3 of the 1st Test.#TeamIndia 151/3 (Pujara 40*, Ajinkya 1*), lead by 166 runs.
Scorecard – https://t.co/bkvbHd9pQy #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/S7g9VlgrT4
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 8, 2018
# India 151/3 (61 overs)
# Ajinkya Rahane comes to bat at No. 5 !
# Wicket! Australia have got a big wicket at the fag end of the third day’s play. The ball pitched into the rough by Lyon and takes the edge of Kohli’s bat to eventually hand the catch to Finch. Kohli goes back to pavilion after making 34 runs. India 148/3 (58 overs)
# Kohli (33) and Pujara (40) stich a 69-run stand for the third wicket as India’s lead goes past 150 against Australia. The final session has been quiet frustrating for the Australian bowlers as nothing has come their way. India 146/2 (54 overs)
Here comes the 50-run partnership between the duo #TeamIndia 130/2, lead by 145 runs.
Live – https://t.co/bkvbHd9pQy #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/VslXQsicd0
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 8, 2018
# Mitchell Starc replaces Pat Cummins!
# The Indian batsmen are still following the same cautious approach. Kohli and Pujara have faced more than 140 deliveries together, however, they are yet to cross the 25-run mark. Australian bowlers are really putting up a great fight without much success. While Nathan Lyon is bowling a dangerous line, Cummins is also putting his heart out with repeated maiden overs. India 119/2 (48 overs)
# Pujara once again escapes the dismissal after being given out leg before wicket off Lyon’s delivery. He goes for review and once again gets the decision overturned after DRS shows that the ball hit outside the line. India 108/2 (42 overs)
#Pat Cummins brought back into the attack!
# Hazlewood continues to trouble the Indian batsmen as he is not conceding easy runs. Despite India being just two wickets down, they are not managing to notch up runs at a rapid pace. The visitors, however, are still leading Australia by 112 runs with eight wickets in hand. Pujara is batting on 15 while Kohli is on nine. India 96/2 (35 overs)
# Kohli smashes his first boundary of the innings. In the process, he has also become the fourth Indian batsman to reach 1000 Test runs in Australia after Sachin Tendulkar (1,809), VVS Laxman (1,236) and Rahul Dravid (1,143). Kohli has acheived the feat at the best average (59.05) by anyone in the last 50 years.
1000 Test runs for @imVkohli in Australia.
He is the 4th Indian to achieve this feat pic.twitter.com/65hdfHx5GQ
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 8, 2018
# Lyon is starting the attack for Australia after tea. Pujara is on strike.
# The final session is all set to get underway !
# India have reached 86 for the loss of two wickets and stretched their lead to 101 runs at the stroke of tea. While Pujara has left the balls pretty well in his short period at crease, skipper Kohli also looked settled till now. The duo will aim to cautiously extend their lead following the dismissals of the Indian openers. India 86/2 (29 overs)
That’s Tea on Day 3 of the 1st Test. #TeamIndia 86/2, lead by 101 runs.
Updates – https://t.co/bkvbHd9pQy … #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/QbVcpfZwfJ
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 8, 2018
That’s tea! A big wicket for Hazlewood a short time ago, but India go to the break at 2-86 and their lead now 101.
Kohli (2) and Pujara (11) the not-out batters: https://t.co/lTUqyqRMzW #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/GJFZXbeLVr
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 8, 2018
# Skipper Virat Kohli is the new batsman in!
# Wicket! India have dealt with another major blow as Australia’s Hazlewood grabs a big wicket in the form of KL Rahul (44), who was steadily moving close to his half-century. The Indian opener looked to loft this over mid-off on the up, but the ball just moved away to take the edge through to skipper Paine. India 80/2 (24.6 overs)
GOT HIM! Hazlewood gets the big wicket as Rahul edges going for the big drive. He’s on his way for 44.
India 2-76, a lead of 91 and here comes Kohli… #AUSvIND https://t.co/lTUqyqRMzW
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 8, 2018
# India experienced a few nervy moments in the past few overs, with Pujara being given out caught behind off Lyon. However, he went for the review and had it overturned.
# Cheteshwar Pujara comes to bat at No. 3
# Wicket! Australia have finally made the breakthrough as Starc strikes to send Vijay (20) back to the pavilion. Similar to his first-innings dismissal, the Indian opener drives away outside the off-stump only to hand Handscomb a sharp catch at second slip. India 64/1 (19 overs)
18.2: WICKET! M Vijay (20) is out, c Peter Handscomb b Mitchell Starc, 63/1 https://t.co/bkvbHd9pQy #AusvInd
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 8, 2018
# Mitchell Starc replaces Pat Cummins!
# Rahul and Vijay have stitched a 50-run stand for the opening wicket as India have extended their lead to 66 runs. Off-spinner Lyon has been brought into the Australian attack as the pacers fail to break the Indian duo’s partnership. India 56-0 (15 overs)
# Nathan Lyon is the new man in the bowling attack!
# After making a cautious start to their second innings, India have started adding runs quickly to their account. While Rahul smashes a couple of boundaries ,Vijay is also eyeing to add some fours to his account. Ausralia’s Hazlewood has been most economical so far as he delivered four maiden overs. India 36/0 (13 overs)
KL Rahul isn’t holding back!
Live coverage here: https://t.co/lTUqyqRMzW #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/xr86289CpO
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 8, 2018
# The Indian openers have not experienced much trouble so far and are doing a great job at the moment. Though Starc and Hazlewood are trying hard to dismiss the duo by delivering both wide and body-line bouncers, they have not been able to taste any success yet. Pat Cummins has also been introduced into the attack as Australia look for some early wickets. India 19-0 (10 overs)
# Rahul and Vijay are off to a slow start as they are leaving all outside-off deliveries. The duo is looking under a bit of pressure after their poor first innings performance. On the other hand, Australian pacers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood haven’t had experienced that sort of seam movement as they had enjoyed on the opening day. India 4-0 (5 overs)
# Indian openers KL Rahul and Murali Vijay are all set to kick start India’s second innings. Mitchell Starc has been asked to open the attack for Australia by Tim Paine.
# Play resumes
# Some good news, the rain has stopped and the covers are coming off. The umpires are out there for discussion and the play is expected to resume soon.
UPDATE: If the rain stays away, the second session will begin at 2:15pm local time (18 mins away).
Minimum 61 overs required for the rest of the day #AUSvIND https://t.co/lTUqyqRMzW
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 8, 2018
# As it has started to drizzle once again at the Adelaide Oval, an early Lunch has been taken in order to save time.
#Lunch
# Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant has created a history by becoming the first Indian wicketkeeper to take six catches in a Test innings against Australia. With three catches on the third day and a total of six in the opening Test, Pant has also equalled former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s record. He is slowly also justifying his selection as a replacement for Dhoni.
# Wicket! Shami has provided a big relief to the visitors, dismissing Travis Head (72) and Josh Hazlewood (duck) in two consecutive deliveries to eventually bundle out Australia for 235 runs in their first innings. India still maintain a 15-run lead going into the second innings . Australia 235 all out (98.4 overs)
ALL OUT. Shami picks up two in two as Hazlewood edges behind to Pant first ball.
Australia dismissed for 235 and India take a lead of 15 runs #AUSvIND https://t.co/lTUqyqRMzW
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 8, 2018
Out. Head edges behind off Shami coming round the wicket to end a vital knock of 72. Australia now 9-235, trailing by just 15 runs #AUSvIND https://t.co/lTUqyqRMzW
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 8, 2018
# Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Shami have been brought into the attack by skipper Virat Kohli !
# While Bumrah and Ishant are trying to bounce the ball against right-hander Lyon, the Aussies duo is handling the pressure quiet well as of now. Bumrah has been economical for India so far having picked up three wickets while conceding just 43 runs in his 23 overs. Australia 228/8 (98 overs)
# Bumrah and Sharma are looking to dismiss the remaining two batsmen as soon as possible in order to provide India with the best-possible lead going into the second innings. Head and Lyon, on the other hand, are batting cautiously after Starc’s dismissal and are bidding to further reduce their gap. Lyon smashed one through the covers while also picked up three runs off Sharma’s delivery. Australia 213/8 (93.3 overs)
# Ishant Sharma is back into the attack
# Nathan Lyon is the new man for Australia and is ready to face Jasprit Bumrah.
# Play resumes
# The rain has stopped and the covers are about to come off. The play is expected to resume soon.
Update: If there is no further rain, play will restart at 12:30 with a scheduled Lunch break at 13:30 local #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/VF0Ov2tlXj
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 8, 2018
# The players are making their way off the field as the covers come back after rain interrupted the play yet again in Adelaide.
# Wicket! Soon after Australia crossed 200-run mark off the third ball in the 91st over, Jasprit Bumrah made a breakthrough for India on Day 3 by dismissing Mitchell Starc for 15. The Australian pacer attempted going for a big drive but he edged one behind the wicket to hand Rishabh Pant simplest of catches. Australia 204/8 (91.4 overs)
Bumrah picks up his third wicket just before the rain delay in Adelaide: https://t.co/lTUqyqRMzW #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/2qYG9VM1gU
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 8, 2018
# Travis Head and Mitchell Starc have walked down to the crease and are all set to resume Australia’s innings. Ishant is opening the attack for India.
Let’s play!
Head (61*) and Starc (8*) make their way out to the middle with Australia trailing by 59 runs #AUSvIND https://t.co/lTUqyqRMzW
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 8, 2018
# The covers have been removed and the day’s play is all set to get underway.
# There is a good news in store for the fans out there!
Good news – if there is no further rain, the first session will commence at 11:15am local time (around 25 mins away). Lunch scheduled for 1.15pm and no overs have been lost #AUSvIND
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 8, 2018
Play will commence at 11:15AM if there is no further rain. Lunch will be at 13:15PM local. No overs lost #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/5jjzDRysTp
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 8, 2018
# Meanwhile, Australian Test skipper Tim Paine has turned 34 on Saturday.
Meanwhile, it’s a happy 34th birthday to Aussie skipper Tim Paine! pic.twitter.com/UX5OCKDyn9
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 8, 2018
# The groundstaff are getting the ground ready and the umpires will soon inspect the conditions in the outfield in order to decide on a start time.They are expected to extend the play by an hour in order to make up for the lost time.
# The rain has stopped and the players of the two sides have started warming up on the ground ahead of the play.
The rain has stopped and the sun is breaking through. Hopefully we’ll have a start shortly #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/PVIEU533OM
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 7, 2018
# The third day’s play has delayed due to wet outfield conditions following torrential rain. The weather, however, is expected to clear up soon with no further interruptions.
Under a cloud cover at the moment the Adelaide Oval #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/KMjSAsTIWR
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 7, 2018
The second day of the first Test between India and Australia was nothing short of a thriller with excellent performances from players of both the sides.
India were bowled out for 250 off the first delivery of the day’s play. In reply, Australia failed to build up their innings well as they lost a flurry of wickets at crucial intervals.
With Travis Head in the middle who scored an unbeaten half-century, the hosts managed to put up a fight, ending the day’s play at 191/7.
Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was the pick of the bowlers for India as he took three wickets after pace bowler Ishant Sharma ensured the perfect start for India by dismissing opener Aaron Finch in the very first over.
The duo was well support by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami who ensured a disciplined performance with the ball.
Matchday Lineups:
Australia XI: Marcus Harris, Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Tim Paine (c,wk), Pat Cummins, Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
India XI: KL Rahul, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma.
Source: Zee News