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28 March 2024

India v Australia 2nd Test: Australia battling for survival

Published
By Allaam Ousman

Ravichandran Ashwin's double strike has left Australia fighting with their backs to the wall after India stretched their first innings lead to 266 before being dismissed for 503.

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Australia are 74-2 after 32 overs at close in their second innings, still trailing 192 runs, after bowled out India for 503 in their first innings of the second Test on day three at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Monday.

Ashwin dismissed David Warner (26) and Phillip Hughes (0) bowled them around their as they attempted ambitious sweep shots.

Australia would have been in deeper trouble had Dhoni snapped up a tough inside edge off Cowan who had not opened scoring.

Warner was also given a life on 13 when Kohli dropped a chest high catch but failed to prosper.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the unlucky bowler on both occasions.

Warner hit robust 26 which contained three boundaries off Ashwin's first over and a thundering six.

Cowan survived to remain unbeaten on 26 having faced 100 balls and hit four boundaries.

Shane Watson who blasted a six off Ashwin to open his account, is with him on 9 having faced 27 balls so far.

Ashwin has figures of two for 42 from 15 overs six of which were maidens while Harbhajan and Jadeja kept Australian batsman on a tight leash.

Earlier, Australia did well to restrict India to 503 bowling them out at tea, as spinners Glenn Maxwell and Xavier Doherty claimed seven wickets between them.

India lost seven wickets for 103 runs in the afternoon session with debutant Maxwell having a return of four for 127 while Doherty finished with three for 131 off 46.1 overs.

India's innings crumbled after the departure of skipper Dhoni for a breezy 44 which contained eight boundaries.

They lost their last six wickets for 43 runs in 15 overs as Maxwell and Doherty extracted more bounce and turn.

India's overnight pair Murali Vijay (167) and Cheteshwar Pujara (204) featured in an Indian record second wicket stand of 370 before both were dismissed in quick succession before lunch.

Tendulkar was out cheaply being adjudged caught behind on the legside after much deliberation by the third umpire but it was the dismissal of Dhoni which triggered the collapse.

EVENING SESSION

Cowan has hit a welcome boundary for Australia sweeping Ashwin past Ishant Sharma at backward square leg.

Ashwin returns from the other end replacing Harbhajan as India are eager to press home the advantage.

Left arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja into the attack now replacing Ashwin who has figures of two for 38 from 13 overs so far.

Shane Watson opens his account by bludgeoning Ashwin over long off for a six.

Phillip Hughes departs for a duck after facing nine deliveries attempting to sweep Ashwin and leaving his leg stump exposed after missing the line to be bowled.

It is a similar to Warner's dismissal with the only difference being Hughes may have dragged into on his stumps off his gloves..

Harbhajan and Ashwin bowl consecutive maidens as India attack.

Ashwin (below) draws first blood bowling Warner round his leg for 26 off 52 balls which contained three boundaries and a six.

Warner misses the line completely as he attempts to sweep Ashwin who comes over the wicket and hits leg stump.

Harbhajan bowls a second consecutive maiden with drinks coming on the last session of play with Australia have progressed to to 53 without loss in the first four after the tea interval.

Warner brings up the 50 of the Australian second innings with a straight driven six off Ashwin in the 16th over.

Ashwin and Harbhajan have sent down a couple of maiden overs as the Australian openers dig in.

Cowan has square cut the first ball from Harbhajan for a boundary.

Cowan has cut Ashwin for his second boundary as Australia are making steady progress in the second innings with Harbhajan into the attack now.

Cowan has hit a lovely square drive to the point boundary off Kumar.

Dhoni has dropped an inside edge from Cowan (0) off Kumar which was dipping and moving away.

Kumar and Ashwin have bowled consecutive maiden overs.

Warner (13) has been dropped by Kohli at gully off Kumar failing to latch on to a stinging cut from the left hander.

David Warner has struck three boundaries in the first over from Ashwin who has been handed the new with Bhuvneshwar Kumar who bowled a maiden over to begin proceedings after tea.

AFTERNOON SESSION

India are all out for 503 after 154 overs at tea in reply to Australia's first innings total of 237-9 declared on day three of the second Test at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Monday.

India lead by 266 runs as the Australian spin duo Maxwell and Doherty sliced through the innings in the afternoon session.

India lost seven wickets for 103 runs in the afternoon session with debutant Maxwell having a return of four 127 while Doherty finished with three for 131 off 46.1 overs.

India's innings crumbled after the departure of skipper Dhoni for a breezy 44 which contained eight boundaries.

They lost their last six wickets for 43 runs in 15 overs as Maxwell and Doherty extracted more bounce and turn.

Kumar is the last man out stumped by Wade off Doherty who picks up his third wicket.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar dances down the track to lash Doherty for his second boundary and bring up the 500 of the Indian innings in the 153rd over.

Ed Cowan takes a brilliant one-handed catch to his left at backward short leg to dismiss Kohli as Maxwell claims his fourth wicket.

Kohli departs for 34 off 92 balls having hit three boundaries.

Harbhajan Singh goes for a duck lofting straight to Maxwell at mid off as Doherty picks up his second wicket.

Doherty claims his first wicket in his 43rd over which is a maiden as Ashwin edges to Hughes at second slip.

Ashwin is dropped first ball by Cowan at short leg off Maxwell who has figures of three for 116 on his Test debut.

Maxwell takes a stunning return catch after a juggle off Jadeja who had smashed a six two balls earlier.

Jadeja opens his account with an on drive to the boundary off Maxwell.

Kohli hits a lovely straight drive to the boundary off Henriques.

Maxwell concedes yet another boundary as Kohli cuts a short delivery through the covers.

Moises Henriques comes into the attack for the first time on the third day with Kohli joined by Ravindra Jadeja.

Maxwell picks up his second wicket as Dhoni attempts to go over the top but holes out to Doherty who pockets it on his second attempt.

Dhoni departs after a breezy knock of 44 off 43 balls which contained eight boundaries having added 56 runs for the fifth wicket with Kohli.

India have added 56 in 15 overs for the loss of Tendulkar in the hour after lunch as drinks are taken with the hosts enjoying a lead of 219 runs.

Dhoni hits consecutive boundaries off Maxwell, jabbing a wide delivery to point to bring up the 450 of the Indian innings.

The second one through the slips bring up the 50 partnership for the fifth wicket with Kohli off 80 balls.

Siddle has bowled a maiden to Dhoni who is ominously quiet or is it the calm before the storm like in Chennai.

Dhoni is turning it on jabbing Siddle to third man for his fifth boundary and then pulling him to square leg.

Dhoni has edged Doherty through the legs of Clarke for his fourth boundary.

Dhoni is rocking the Aussies once again hitting three consecutive boundaries of Doherty, twice through the covers and a delicate edge to third man.

Tendulkar is adjudged caught behind on the leg side off Pattinson after much deliberation with the third umpire in the second over after lunch.

Tendulkar's attempted flick down the leg side apparently gets a faint nick with the onfield umpires going upstairs to check whether the catch was taken cleanly after a persistent appeal by Pattinson and Wade.

Tendulkar hits the first boundary after lunch steering Pattinson to square leg.

Australia hit back in the half hour before lunch removing Murali Vijay (167) and Cheteshwar Pujara (204) who featured in a record 370-run stand for the second wicket which is the highest for India.

India lead by 163 runs with seven wickets in hand having 89 runs in 30 overs for the loss of two wickets in the morning session.

Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli in the middle as India will aim to consolidate their stranglehold on the match.

Maxwell got the breakthrough and his first Test wicket when Vijay edged to Cowan at short leg after a marathon innings which lasted over seven hours.

Pujara completed his second double century but was undone by a bouncer from Pattinson attempting a hook but only holing it to fine leg where Doherty took a well judged catch.

Pujara and Kohli also reached 1,000 Test runs.

MORNING SESSION


Kohli opens his account with a boundary off Maxwell through the covers to pass 1,000 Test runs and also brings up the 400 of the Indian innings in the 122nd over.

As always happens following a big partnership, Vijay and Pujara depart in quick succession in the last half hour before lunch on day three.

Pattinson strikes as Pujara (below) attempts to hook a bouncer only holing out to Doherty at fine leg shortly before lunch.

Pujara's monumental knock of 204 off 341 balls contained 30 boundaries and a six.

Pujara reaches his second double century in style dancing down the track and whipping Maxwell with his trademark wristy shot for his 30th boundary to midwicket.

His monumental knock off 332 balls also contained a six.

Maxwell gets his first Test wicket that of Murali Vijay caught by Cowan at short leg for 167.

Vijay's (below) marathon knock which lasted more than seven hours contained 23 fours and two sixes facing 361 balls.

Maxwell who was hit for a boundary two balls earlier by Pujara also ended the record second wicket stand of 370.

Michael Clarke is ringing in the changes with Pattinson replacing Siddle and bowling a maiden over to Vijay.

Pujara survives after a sharp bat-pad chance off Maxwell fell short of the close-in fielder.

Pujara completes 1,000 Test runs with a couple of Siddle being the joint fastest with Sunil Gavaskar in terms of matches (11) and second-fastest behind Vinod Kambli (14) in terms of innings.

Vijay has paddled swept Maxwell from the off to the fine leg boundary to bring up the 350 partnership for the second wicket and finishes the over with a wonderful drive to the long off fence.

Glenn Maxwell returns to the attack after having gone for 55 in his 10 overs.

This the highest second wicket partnership for India surpassing the 344 between Sunil Gavaskar and Dilip Vengsarkar against West Indies in Kolkata in 1978-79.

Pujara has smashed the first delivery after the drinks interval of the third morning off Doherty.

Murali Vijay ends the first hour of play on the third morning by steering Siddle to third man for a boundary as Australia's frustrations continue.

Pujara and Vijay have added 45 runs from 16 overs as they batted cautiously punishing the loose deliveries to pile on the agony for the tourists.

Pujara punches Doherty to the point boundary to bring up the 350 of the Indian innings in the 108th over.

Murali Vijay passes 150 for the first time in Test cricket.

It came off 322 balls and contained 20 fours and two sixes.

Pujara survives a confident leg before appeal by Doherty being rapped on the front pad attempting to sweep the left arm spinner.

VIJAY AND PUJARA RULE ON DAY TWO

Vijay has greeted Siddle by driving a good length delivery with superb timing to the cover boundary.

Siddle has come into the attack for the first time on the third morning replacng Pattinson as expected.

Doherty has bowled a third consecutive maiden over to Pujara who is determined to settle down before unleashing his array of strokes.

Pattinson also bowls a maiden to Vijay who has surpassed his previous highest Test score of 139.

Doherty has bowled a second consecutive maiden to Pujara who is in sight of 1,000 runs in Test cricket.

Vijay has steered Pattinson past the vacant slip for another boundary.

Pujara has glanced an attempted yorker from Pattinson to the fine leg boundary.

Doherty sends a maiden over to Pujara bowling a nagging line and length.

Murali Vijay hit the first boundary of the third morning pouncing on a short delivery from Doherty to send it crashing to point.

The 300 partnership off 526 balls for the unbroken second wicket between Vijay and Pujara comes up with a single off Doherty.

Pattinson has beaten Murali Vijay who fishes outside the off surprised by a delivery which kept low.

Doherty has bowled a maiden to a watchful Murali Vijay in the third over of the day.

Pattinson has been handed the ball to fire from the other end as Australia are desperate to get an early breakthrough.

Australia open the third day with left arm spinner Xavier Doherty with the new ball just 13 overs old.

Australia face an uphill task to avert the ignominy of another humiliating defeat as India resume on 311 for one on day three of the second Test at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Monday.

India enjoy a lead of 74 runs as they grinded the Australian attack thanks to unbeaten centuries from Murali Vijay (129) and Cheteshwar Pujara (162).