Finance
On Day 2 of the 1st Test of the four-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, India reached 321/7 at stumps, taking a 144-run lead over Australia. Opener Rohit Sharma scored a majestic century, his first as Test captain, while all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel struck fighting unbeaten half-centuries.
At the close of play at the VCA Stadium here, Jadeja was batting on 66 with Axar Patel on 52 runs as India scored 244 runs on the day, losing six wickets and setting themselves up for a three-day victory.
Rohit scored his first century since September 2021, his ninth overall, by lofting Murphy for a boundary off 171 balls and was studded with 14 fours and two sixes. He was out in the first over after tea, his opposite number Pat Cummins sending his off-stump cartwheeling with the second new ball.
Rohit’s 345-minute vigil at the wicket yielded 120 runs and was peppered with 15 boundaries and two sixes.
Jadeja, who took 5-47 to help India dismiss Australia for 177 in their first innings, and Axar Patel took over from there, adding 81 runs for the unfinished eighth-wicket partnership as India surpassed 300 runs. Jadeja hit seven boundaries during his 114-ball half-century. Patel reached the milestone with 94 balls and eight fours.
The day was engrossing and enthralling as both sides attempted to seize control of the proceedings. Every time India tried to extend their lead, Australia took a wicket or two to keep them at bay. Todd Murphy (5-82) claimed his first five-wicket haul in his debut Test and troubled the Indian batters throughout the day. The rookie off-spinner bowled a fine line and length at the right pace.
However, Australia will be disappointed with the five chances they missed during the Indian innings.
Rohit played one of his best innings, anchoring the Indian innings with a magnificent effort. He was cautious, used soft hands to play the spinners, used his feet, and read the line and bounce perfectly. This was his ninth century in Test cricket, and it came after a long drought that began in September 2021. It was also his first match as India captain and his second at the VCA Stadium, following an unbeaten 102 against Sri Lanka in 2017.
Though there were a few nervous moments and close calls — edges flew just wide of the fielders on a couple of occasions — he kept one end intact even as he lost partners like Ashwin, with whom he shared a 42-run stand, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, and Suryakumar, all three of whom did not stay long at the wicket. Off 171 deliveries, he completed his century with a lofted boundary off Murphy as India surpassed Australia’s first-innings score of 177.
The 35-year-old, who was born in Bansod, near Nagpur, got an early start on Thursday, completing the first fifty deliveries of his century in 66 deliveries. His second fifty was more measured and sedate, coming off 105 deliveries.
India reached the 200-run mark in the 71st over and declared at 226/5 after adding 75 runs in the second session.
The Indian captain got the only life of his innings in the first over after tea, when his opposite number Pat Cummins forced a thick edge with the second new ball that Steve Smith couldn’t catch at second slip. But it didn’t matter because Cummins followed up with an even better delivery that sent Rohit’s off-stump cartwheeling, with one moved just enough to pass through the gap between bat and pad.
Apart from Rohit, India also lost the wicket of Srikar Bharat after tea, but the hosts still managed to score 95 runs in the final session.
Earlier in the morning, Ashwin, who was brought in as night watchman after K.L Rahul was out in the final over before stumps on Thursday, did a good job, surviving the first hour and assisting skipper Rohit Sharma in keeping the scoreboard ticking.
He hit boundaries off Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins, as well as slog-sweeping Lyon over deep mid-wicket for a six, as he survived a few close calls, including a big lbw appeal in the 27th over, before being caught lbw off Todd Murphy for 23.
The ball was pitched round the wicket on the middle and leg and turned in, missing the inside edge by a whisker and striking the front pad. Ashwin had not taken a single step forward and though the umpire gave him not out, Australia reviewed and got the wicket.
Pujara (7, 14 balls, 14) looked cautious as usual before attempting to hit a loose ball outside leg from Murphy but failing to top-edge it to Scott Boland at short fine-leg.
Rohit and Kohli led India to lunch on 151/3, with the Indian captain scoring 81.
As India fell to 151/4, a few runs behind Australia’s first innings total of 177, Kohli fell on the first ball after lunch, offering a thick edge behind off a loose delivery by Murphy. When Suryakumar Yadav scored only eight runs in his debut Test, India were 168/5, nine runs behind the visitors.
Pujara’s dismissal, along with that of Virat Kohli following the afternoon session, was a major setback for India, as both could have helped the team gain a stronger position in the match.
However, Rohit and Jadeja added 61 runs for the sixth wicket, and Jadeja and Patel added another half-century partnership for the eighth wicket to take India past 300 runs and in command of the match.
Brief scores: Australia 177 v India 321/7 in 114 overs (Rohit Sharma 120, Ravindra Jadeja batting 66, Axar Patel batting 52; Todd Murphy 5-82). India lead by 144 runs.
Source:OCN
