AFP
R Ashwin revived India’s hopes as he dismissed both David Warner (10) and Shaun Marsh (0) to leave Australia at 46/2 at tea on Day 2 of the first Test here in Pune. The visitors lead by 201 runs.
Nine wickets tumbled in the second session on Day 2, including a sensational batting collapse that saw India lose their last seven wickets for just 11 runs to get bundled for a paltry 105.
Steve O’Keefe was the pick of the bowlers for Australia as the left-arm spinner used the turn on offer to take three wickets in a single over to return figures of 6/35. It was in the 33rd over that the 32-year-old first scalped KL Rahul (64) before sending back both Ajinkya Rahane (13) and Wriddhiman Saha (1) in the span of just four deliveries.
In the next over, Ravichandran Ashwin was caught off his boot by Peter Handscomb as Australia went on to wrap up the tail in quick succession.
Coming on to bat, Australia were off to a quick start as Warner struck two boundaries off Ashwin’s first over but was trapped in front on the last ball to head back. Marsh on the other end had been approaching his knock in an extremely cautious manner, trying to get used to the surface, but fell in a similar manner even without opening his account.
Steve Smith and Peter Handscomb then saw off the session with the former hitting four boundaries, including a few glorious drives through the cover region. As it seems so far, the intent from the Baggy Greens is to score quick runs and put up a huge target for India who will have a real tough time to bat on in the fourth innings.
(Agencies)
