Bengaluru: India set a tricky 188-run winning target after it's fight back in the second innings was cut short by Australian fast bowlers as hosts were all out for 274 at lunch, on the fourth day of the second test match being played at M Chinnaswamy stadium here today.Overnight batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara (92) and Ajinkya Rahane (52), resuming at 79 and 40 respectively, extended India's overnight score from 213 to 238.The fifth wicket pair added 128 runs for the fifth wicket in 274 balls that gave India a glimmer of hope.
This came after the hosts trailed the visitors for most part of the first two days and made some amends to their disappointing performance in the series, on the third day yesterday.Josh Hazlewood was wrecker-in-chief for Australia as he added three more wickets to his tally today to return with impressive figures of 24-5-67-6, while his fellow pacer Mitchell Starc and left arm spinner Steven O'Keefe took two wickets each.Off spinner Nathan Lyon, who took eight wickets in India's paltry 189 in the first innings, went wicket less.
Australia had made 276 in the first innings.Rahane was first to go dismissed lbw by Starc after completing fine half century and Pujara's fight came to an end when Hazlewood had him caught easily by Mitchell Marsh at gully and the fifth wicket partnership ended after 45.
4 overs.
Though umpire Llong did not respond to Aussie fielders appeal against Rahane when Starc bowled a fuller length delivery swinging in, captain Steve Smith went for an appeal and won the verdict.India received a shock as promising Karun Nair (0) left the very next ball by Starc.
Nair went for a loose drive and thin inside edge rattled the stumps.
It was one of the quickest balls of the match at 154 kmph and India were down 238-6.
Pujara on 83 was given out lbw by umpire Llong but won on review appeal.But his stay too was short lived as Hazalwood scalped him just after the Indian batsman had hit the Aussie speedster for a boundary down the leg.
Pujara hit seven fours in his marathan 221 ball essay.India at 242 for 7 and all top order batsmen left, had little hope to further bulge the overall lead.R Ashwin came in at the fall of Pujara and struck a boundary off Hazzlewood, a glorious drive on through the covers.
But he too was out next ball to a express delivery that pierced his defence and crashed on to the stumps.Indian batsmen contributed to their own downfall playing some lose shots and Nair and Ashwin were the example.
Wriddhiman Saha who made an unbeaten 20 tried to do his best hitting a huge six off Starc but Umesh Yadav was out soon caught by Warner at mid-off off Hazlewood for 1 and the last man out was Ishant Sharma (4).The last wicket pair added 16 runs.(UNI)