Adelaide: R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav led India’s charge as the Virat Kohli-led team, after bowling Australia out for 191, secured a handy 62-run lead at stumps on Day 2 of the day-night Test, here at the Adelaide Oval on Friday.
India had to bat for 6 overs before the close of play and Prithvi Shaw was dismissed by Pat Cummins but Jasprit Bumrah, who came out to bat at number three as a nightwatchman and Mayank Agarwal took India to 9/1 before stumps.
Resuming the Day 2 at 233/6, Indian lower order couldn’t contribute much and the visitors were all out for 244 in the first innings.
Overnight batsmen Ravichandran Ashwin (15) and Wriddhiman Saha (9) got back to the dressing room within the first two overs bowled by Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc respectively.
Umesh Yadav (6) and Mohammad Shami (0) were the last two wickets to fall as Indian innings came to an end after adding just 11 runs to the overnight score. Bumrah remained unbeaten on 4.
After being all out for 244, India bowlers kept the things tight and denied Australia any chance to score easy runs, conceding just 12 runs in the first 10 overs.
The first blow came in the 15th over when Bumrah, coming in from around the wicket at the left-hander, had Matthew Wade trapped in front. Bumrah struck again in his next over as he sent back the other opener, Joe Burns, also trapped in front with a full one that swung back into him.
While Marnus Labuschagne got a couple of reprieves at the either side of the dinner break, R Ashwin gave India a big breakthrough as he struck in his first over to get Steve Smith out for 1, to leave Australia in the lurch at 45/3.
The Indian off-spinner shortly picked his second wicket by dismissing Travis Head, completing an easy caught and bowled chance in the 35th over.
India got their third wicket of the session and fifth wicket of the match, courtesy a brilliant catch from Virat Kohli. The Indian skipper, manning the mid-wicket area, leapt towards his right to get Cameron Green caught for 11
Labuschagne and Tim Paine then took Australia past the 100-run mark. But Umesh Yadav’s double-wicket maiden, where he trapped Labuschagne before the wickets and had Pat Cummins caught with a short ball, reduced Australia to 111/7.
Paine was joined by Mitchell Starc and the pair added 28 runs before Prithvi Shaw’s sharp throw from the deep caught Starc short of his crease.
The Australian skipper though continued to put up a fight and brought up his fifty and took his side past 160 along with Nathan Lyon. However, Ashwin broke the partnership, dismissing Lyon.
While Josh Hazlewood played a few shots, India bowled out Australia for 191 to secure a 53-run lead in the first innings. Meanwhile, Paine remained not out for 73, his third-highest score in the format. (UNI)
