On the second day of the first Test against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium here on Friday, Rohit Sharma’s century and unbeaten half-centuries from Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel helped India score 321 runs at the loss of seven wickets at stumps.
At 226/5 after the post-tea session, India lost its prized wicket of captain Rohit Sharma when Pat Cummins of Australia dismissed him for 120 runs. India lost their sixth wicket after scoring 229 runs.
The hosts lost their seventh wicket for 240 runs when debutant KS Bharat joined Ravindra Jadeja at the crease. Todd Murphy then dismissed him for eight runs. Murphy recorded his first five-wicket haul. Jadeja was then joined at the wicket by Axar Patel, and the pair helped the team surpass the 250-run mark. Jadeja, a comeback player, also reached fifty.
India increased their lead past the 100-run mark with the help of the Jadeja-Patel pairing, bringing their total up to 277. The two ran together for more than 50 runs as a team. India’s 300-run milestone increased the pressure on Australia. Axar continued to score, reaching fifty runs, as India finished the day with 321 runs for 7 wickets and a 144-run advantage.
Earlier in the day, Todd Murphy defeated Ashwin for 23 out of 62 balls, which dealt India a severe blow. Cheteshwar Pujara, a right-handed batter, came out to bat and hit Murphy for a superb four. Murphy, who has been in outstanding form lately, dealt India another blow by getting rid of Pujara for seven runs. India trailed by 42 runs at this point. At the crease, Virat Kohli came out to bat. With a three-wicket loss at lunch, the partnership of Virat and Rohit increased the team total to 151. On the first ball after the lunch break, Todd Murphy struck the deck hard and gave his team a significant breakthrough by dismissing Virat Kohli for 12. Murphy, making his debut, took his fourth wicket.
With India at 168/5 in the 60th over of the match, Nathan Lyon then joined the wicket-taking party by bowling a shocker to dismiss debutant Suryakumar for 8 runs. Lyon gave Australia a chance to get back into the match with this wicket.
