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Australia beat India by four wickets to win second Test

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Chris Rogers celebrates his fifty. © AFP

Chris Rogers celebrates his fifty. © AFP

Brisbane: Australia beat India by four wickets on the fourth day to win the second cricket Test at the Gabba here Saturday to take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series.

Australia took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series with a four-wicket win over India on the fourth day of the second Test at the Gabba here Saturday.

Chasing 128 for victory, the hosts were made to sweat but ultimately got over the finishing line, scoring 130 for six, leaving India rueing the opportunities they missed in the match. Things could have panned out very different had the visitors got rid of Australia’s tail in the first innings swiftly.

India’s dismal collapse on the morning of the fourth day also played a huge hand in the defeat.

But India still managed to make a match out of it, taking six Australian wickets and casting doubts in the opposition dressing room.

But a 63-run partnership for the third wicket between opener Chris Rogers (55) and captain Steven Smith (28) was enough to thwart the visitors.

But the poor form of middle-order batsman Shaun Marsh (17) and Brad Haddin (1), who threw their wickets away, would worry the Australian camp, as their untimely dismissal gave a window of hope to India for a dramatic late victory.

Pacers Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav bowled in the right areas in the second innings and were rewarded with three and two wickets respectively. Ishant was the pick of the bowlers, picking up two early wickets to put Australia in a spot of bother at tea.

But the damage was done earlier in the morning, when Australian bowlers, bowled with considerable venom to rattle the Indians.

Left-handed opener Shikhar Dhawan (81) fought valiantly, even stringing together a 60-run partnership with Umesh Yadav (30) for the eighth wicket but it came too late in the day as the visitors slumped from a comfortable 71 for one to a dismal 157 for seven, leading by just 60 runs, at lunch.

They lost four wickets inside the first seven overs managing to score just 16 runs in the process and were never able to recover from that early disaster.

Their day began on the wrong note even before the slump, when overnight batsman Dhawan got injured on the wrist while batting at the nets and didn’t come out to bat.

Virat Kohli (1) joined overnight batsman Cheteshwar Pujara (43) in the mmiddle.

Kohli never seemed prepared for the big task and was very tentative, ultimately getting castled by Mitchell Johnson in his brief stay at the wicket.

Johnson was all over India after that; bowling with pace and menace on a pitch that was beginning to get a little difficult to bat on.

Inida produced several short partnerships after that, Pujara involved in each one of them, but never failed to consolidate on the initial start.

India lost wickets at regular intervals and on key moments of the contest to surrender the fate of the match.

Johnson was ably supported by other pacers – Shane Watson, the usually wayward Mitchell Starc and the first innings five-wicket hero debutant pacer Josh Hazlewood.

But India’s hopes of a late fightback through Ravichandran Ashwin (19) vapourised after the spinner was victim of another umpiring howler, given out caught for a presumed inside edge when the ball only managed to flick his pad on to wicketkeeper Bard Haddin’s gloves.

(IANS)

India 71/1 after Australia post 505 at stumps on day three

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Shikar

Brisbane: Steven Smith and Mitchell Johnson’s whirlwind partnership propelled Australia to a first innings score 505 runs, a lead of 97, but India made a solid start to their second innings, reaching 71 for one to trail by only 26 at stumps on day three of the second Test at the Gabba here Friday.

At stumps, India’s opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan and No.3 Cheteshwar Pujara were at the crease, on 26 and 15 respectively. First innings centurion Murali Vijay (27) was the Indian batsman to be dismissed.

Australia, though, will be happier of the two teams having fought back brilliantly from a precarious position to help themselves to a handy first innings lead.

Indian bowler’s ineptness at dismissing the tailenders once again cost them dear as Australia reached 505 from an uncomfortable position of 247 for six.

India have the worst average in Test cricket of giving away runs to tailenders. The visitors have given away 84 runs on an average to take the eighth, ninth and 10th wickets. Aned Friday’s performance gives credence to the fact.

Captain Steven Smith (133) and Mitchell Johnson (88) put together 148 runs for the seventh wicket as Australia smashed 282 runs in the first two sessions of play. To add to India’s woes No.8 batsman Mitchell Starc struck 52.

Starc combined first with Nathan Lyon (23) to add 56 runs for the ninth wicket and then with debutant Josh Hazlewood (not out 32) for a 51-run stand for the final wicket.

Pacers Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav took three wickets each while Varun Aaron and Ravichandran Ashwin shared four wickets among them.

Smith and Johnson, who counter-attacked with great fervour, though, laid the foundation of the fightback.

They carried on from where they left off at lunch and continued to be aggressive.

It finally took an Ishant over to get rid of the two. The Indian pacer first got Johnson with a wide and full delivery and then castled Smith with an sharp in-swinger.

Earlier, a blistering unbeaten 104-run partnership between captain Smith and Johnson took Australia to 351 for six at lunch.

The hosts seemed to be in a spot of bother when overnight batsman Mitchell Marsh (11) and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (6) were dismissed early in the session, where they scored 130 runs.

India began the session brightly. The visitors began with discipline, attacking the channel outside off, and were rewarded with two early wickets.

Ishant clean bowled Mitchell Marsh and then Varun removed vice-captain Haddin with a perfectly executed bouncer.

However, India switched their plan and bowled short deliveries indiscriminately and Johnson feasted on them to run away to a 37-ball half-century. The error in judgement proved costly as Johnson got much-needed confidence to put together a vital 148-run partnership with Smith that nullified India’s eraly supremacy and put the home team in a strong position.

Smith moved to his second century of the four-match series as well, as India’s 187-run lead at the start of the day shrunk to 57. From them on Australia didn’t falter.

(IANS)

Hazlewood stars but Umesh gives India edge

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steve-smith

Brisbane: Debutant Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood’s five-for might have grabbed all the headlines but Indian quickie Umesh Yadav picked up three wickets to restrict Australia to 221 runs for four, in reply to India’s first innings score of 408 at stumps on the second day of the second Test here Thursday.

An unbeaten 64 from captain Steven Smith meant Australia are still 187 runs behind.

Things could have been a lot different for the hosts had the top-order batsmen not thrown their wickets away after making good starts.

After being 121 for three at tea, the final session belonged completely to Australia.

Smith along with Shaun Marsh (32) put on 87 runs for the fourth wicket as the hosts reduced at the deficit.

However, the timely wicket of Shaun, following a brilliant catch by Ravichandran Ashwin at slips, gave India the initiative again.

Bad light put an end to the day’s play with Smith and Mitchell Marsh (batting 7) at the crease.

Yadav was the pick of the Indian bowlers and got good support from offie Ashwin, who picked up a wicket too.

Varun Aaron bowled fast but without much luck. The pacer found the top edge of Shaun Marsh’s bat but Ajinkya Rahane grassed the chance.

Luckily for India the left-hander fell in the very next over to Yadav.

Earlier, a five-wicket haul by Hazlewood helped Australia bowl out India for 408 at the stroke of lunch.

India, who were in the driving seat at stumps on day one, managed to add only 97 runs to their overnight score of 311 for four.

The visitors were put on the backfoot almost immediately when Rahane (81) was dismissed in the third over of the day. His overnight partner Rohit Sharma (32) also didn’t survive much longer, getting dismissed six overs later.

After adding just 17 runs, India had lost both their overnight batsmen and had relinquished their strong position.

A 57-run partnership for the seventh wicket between skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (33) and Ravichandran Ashwin (35) stabilised the situation. But Ashwin’s wicket once again opened the floodgates as the visitors surrendered rather meekly in the end.

Dhoni looked good for a while but edged a Hazlewood delivery to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin while trying to leave the ball.

India’s tail failed to put up a fight and fell without much trouble for the hosts.

Australia, in their reply, came out all guns blazing with last match’s double-innings centurion David Warner (29) once again looking dangerous.

The hosts got off to a quick start, reaching 47 for no loss as Warner peppered the boundaries with some aggressive batting.

But a leading edge proved to be the downfall for the left-hander, giving India some reprieve.

Shane Watson (25) and opener Chris Rogers (55) were in no mood to hand the initiative back to India and took on the bowlers.

The duo shared a 51-run stand for the second wicket and scored at a fair clip, threatening to take the game away from the visitors.

But an overzealous Watson tried to take on Ashwin and was caught brilliantly by Shikhar Dhawan at mid-on.

Rogers kept the scoreboard ticking and was joined by new skipper Smith, forged a 23-run stand before gloving an Umesh delivery down the leg side to Dhoni.

(IANS)

Murali Vijay's 144 takes India to 311/4 on day one

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Murali Vijay celebrates after scoring hundred in Brisbane. © AFP

Murali Vijay celebrates after scoring hundred in Brisbane. © AFP

Brisbane: Murali Vijay scored 144 and shared a century stand with Ajinkya Rahane as India’s batsmen dictated terms to an Australian attack that fell short of expectations Wednesday on the opening day of the second Test.

Four days after losing eight wickets in the final session of a 48-run defeat in Adelaide, India dominated on day one in Brisbane to reach 311-4 at stumps.

Australia’s pace attack had been expected to exploit the extra bounce and pace that are characteristic of pitches at the Gabba, where Australia hasn’t lost since 1988, but the new-look bowling lineup didn’t get its length right and the fielding was sub-standard.

Rohit Sharma (not out 26) was batting with Rahane at the close of play.

Nathan Lyon scripts incredible Australian win at Adelaide

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Virat Kohli and Murali Vijay raised hopes of a draw – a possible win too – but Nathan Lyon’s off-spin stopped them well short.

Photo: Getty Images

Photo: Getty Images

Adelaide: India suffered a dramatic batting collapse, losing eight wickets in the final session and were bowled out for 315 runs, to lose the first Test against Australia by 48 runs on the fifth and final day at the Adelaide Oval here Saturday.

Skipper Virat Kohli (141) scored his second century of the match, again leading the visitors’ batting charge. He was given able support by opener Murali Vijay (99). But their good work wasn’t complemented by the rest of the team as they succumbed to the guile of off-spinner Nathan Lyon who took seven wickets for 152 runs.

Australia had earlier declared their second innings at 290 for five.

Australia 7 for 517 dec (Smith 162*, Warner 145, Clarke 128) and 5 for 290 dec (Warner 102) beat India 444 (Kohli 115, Lyon 5-134) and 315 (Kohli 141, Vijay 99, Lyon 7-152) by 48 runs

(With inputs from IANS)

Warner century gives Australia big lead

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Australia India Cricket

Adelaide: Opener David Warner’s (102) second century in as many innings powered Australia to 290 for five in their second innings and gave the hosts a commanding 363-run lead against India after the fourth day of the first of the four-match Test series at the Adelaide Oval here Friday.

Left-hander Warner, who had scored a belligerent 145 in the first innings, registered his 11th ton to help the hosts build their lead quickly as India were bowled out for 444 thanks to off-spinner Nathan Lyon’s sixth five-wicket haul.

Warner scored at a brisk pace in a knock laced with 11 boundaries and a six, frustrating and demoralising the visitors.

The 28-year-old Warner first shared a 38-run stand for the first wicket with Chris Rogers (21) till the latter was dismissed by debutant spinner Karn Sharma. Rogers’ sweep went straight to Rohit Sharma at mid-wicket.

Warner, however, was unperturbed and singled out leggie Karn for special treatment, smacking him for six boundaries. He also used the sweep shot to nice effect against the spinner, mixing it up with straight drives and punches through the covers.

Shane Watson (33) did well to support Warner, who looked in no mood to let Indian bowlers go unpunished. Their 102-run partnership ended when a reverse swinging Mohammed Shami delivery went between Watson’s bat and pad to hit his stumps.

Warner continued with the show and also had luck on his side, getting bowled off a no ball on 66, misreading a Varun Aaron full delivery. He got a second reprieve while batting on 90 when he cut a delivery off Shami only for Murali Vijay at gully to grass a difficult chance.

Warner made most of the chances to complete his century with a pull to mid-wicket.

Warner lost his wicket soon after reaching the three figures, becoming the first Australian in five years to notch up 1000 Test runs in a year. He attempted a switch hit off a Karn delivery only to get bowled.

Skipper Michael Clarke (7) was dismissed cheaply, edging an Aaron delivery to wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha.

Steven Smith (not out 52) and Mitchell Marsh (40) continued to impress with useful knocks. Smith, who remained unbeaten at 162 in the first innings, completed his fifty in just 60 deliveries. Vice-captain Brad Haddin (not out 14) was at the crease with Smith at stumps.

Earlier, India managed to add only 75 runs to their overnight score of 369 for five and conceded a 73-run first innings lead. Lyon removed overnight batsmen Rohit (43) and Saha (25) before taking the wicket of Ishant Sharma to claim five wickets for 134 runs.

Indian batsmen Rohit and Wriddhiman made a sedate start as they scored only eight runs in the first seven overs Friday before the latter picked up two boundaries off left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson.

Australian skipper Michael Clarke brought in Lyon and he dismissed Rohit in his second over of the day. The Indian batsman charged down the track but only managed to nudge it straight back into the bowler’s hand when the team’s total was 399.

Up next, Karn (4) had his stumps dismantled by pace bowler Peter Siddle. Leg-spinner Lyon got good purchase from the fourth day pitch, which offered variable pace and bounce.

He removed Wriddhiman with another loopy delivery which beat the batsman’s inside edge and kissed his thigh before landing in the waiting hands of Shane Watson at slips. Two deliveries later, Ishant failed to defend a ball which bounced sharply after hitting the rough, kissed his gloves and went straight into the hands of Smith at short leg.

Shami entertained the crowd with a quickfire 34 off 24 before he guided a Siddle delivery to Watson at gully to give Australia a sizeable lead.

(IANS)

Kohli ton leads India's strong reply

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Australia India Cricket

by Prateek Srivastava, gocricket

Adelaide: India, led by debutant captain Virat Kohli’s second ton at the Adelaide Oval, made solid progress in reply to a huge Australian total of 517/7 declared, ending the third day on 365/5 – just 148 runs in arrears of the hosts. Mitchell Johnson’s removal of Kohli just ten minutes before stumps took the sheen off India’s day, and leaves Australia needing to separate the overnight pair of Rohit Sharma (33) and Wriddhiman Saha (0) to get into the tail.

While Kohli hit his first hundred in 11 Test innings, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane and Murali Vijay contributed important fifties to negate the disciplined Australian bowlers on a surface partial to batsmen. The opening stand of 30 between Shikhar Dhawan and Vijay was followed up with partnerships of 81 (Vijay and Pujara), 81 (Pujara and Kohli), 101 (Rahane and Kohli) and 74 (Kohli and Rohit) to cancel out the disappointment of the Indian bowlers who sent down too many short balls during the first two days.

Kohli, after being hit on the helmet off the first ball he faced by Johnson, was dogged thereafter. He had struggled in the swinging conditions of England but in Australia, where bounce is more prominent than swing, Kohli came into his own. He drove either side of the wicket whenever opportunities presented themselves but equally crucial was how he waited patiently for poor balls.

In the partnerships with Pujara and Rahane, Kohli chose to play second fiddle, scoring 36 and 38 respectively, but it was when joined by Rohit that he took on the role of aggressor – scoring 41 in that stand. Rahane and Pujara also played exquisite innings before falling to offspinner Nathan Lyon, who used the rough outside the offstump to good effect. Rahane, on 62, was looking good for a century when Lyon got one to kick up and could only awkwardly fend at it, offering a simple catch to Shane Watson at slip.

Pujara and Kohli were paired after Johnson ended Vijay’s well-compiled 53 late in the first session. Pujara also patiently waited for bad balls and drove one such delivery from Ryan Harris from outside offstump to complete his sixth Test fifty off 96 balls. On 73, he fell to an innocuous-looking Lyon delivery which dribbled off his bat and went on to hit the stumps.

After play started half an hour earlier to make up for lost time on day two that saw just 30.4 overs bowled due to bad weather, openers Vijay and Dhawan, under the weight of Australia’s huge total, started off positively. Dhawan survived a low drop chance in the third over bowled by Johnson when Brad Haddin, despite diving to his right, failed to grasp the ball behind the wickets. In the same over came he collected three elegant boundaries: the first was flicked off his pads, the second punched straight past the bowler and the third pierced through the midwicket region. However, as has been his wont of late, the left-hander tried to play across to a slightly shortish delivery from Harris and played on.

Dhawan’s early departure had put India in a spot of bother but Kohli’s seventh ton, his first since 105 against New Zealand in February earlier this year, helped the tourists end their day in good cheer.

Brief scores: India 369/5 (Kohli 115, Rahane 62, Vijay 53, Pujara 73; Johnson 2/90, Lyon 2/103) trail Australia 517/7d (Smith 162, Clarke 128, Warner 145) by 148 runs.

Ranji Trophy: Jammu & Kashmir take historic win over Mumbai

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It was J&K’s first win over the 40-time champions in the tournament’s 79-year history.

Ranji Trophy Jammu Kashmir Mumbai

Mumbai: Jammu and Kashmir upset domestic cricket giants Mumbai with a historic four-wicket win by chasing down 237 runs on the last day of the match here at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday.

It was J&K’s first win over the 40-time champions in the tournament’s 79-year history.

Opener Shubham Khajuria led the innings again, with a composed 78, and the win was secured by an unbeaten 41 from Hardeep Singh. Captain Parvez Rasool also contributed with a valuable 32.

J&K resumed on 58 for one and lost Bandeep Singh in the fourth over of the day.

But the visitors were steadied by Rasool and Hardeep and sealed the victory despite losing four more wickets.

Khajuria was named Man of the Match for his 50 in the second innings and 107 in the first.

Brief scores:

Jammu & Kashmir vs. Mumbai – 254 & 237/6 (Shubham Khajuria 78, Hardeep Singh 41; Vishal Dabholkar 2/66, Iqbal Abdullah 1/24) beat Mumbai 236 and 254.

Smith, Clarke score tons as rain mars second day's play

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Smith and Clarke punished India's ordinary bowling on Day 2. Photo: AP

Smith and Clarke punished India’s ordinary bowling on Day 2. Photo: AP

Adelaide: Steven Smith (batting 162) and skipper Michael Clarke (128) scored centuries to help Australia reach 517 for seven on a rain-affected second day of the first Test against India at the Adelaide Oval here Wednesday.

Intermittent rain plagued the day with the Australian duo ruthlessly dominating a listless Indian bowling, which conceded 163 runs in 30.4 overs.

A half-fit Clarke and Smith shared 163-run partnership for the seventh wicket and completely dominated with some scintillating strokeplay till the skipper, after completing his 28th century, lost his wicket when his sweep off a debutant Karn Sharma delivery went straight into the hands of Cheteshwar Pujara at square leg.

His wicket was India’s only success for the day.

The 25-year-old right-handed batsman Steven Smith once again showed mettle with a gritty knock. He batted with aplomb as his captain battled pain and initially struggled with body movement due to back spasm which had forced him to retire hurt Tuesday at an individual score of 60.

Early on, Smith kept the scoreboard ticking by peppering the boundary. His knock not only pressurised the Virat Kohli-led Indians but also took pressure off Clarke as he took time to settle down.

Though Clarke lacked in footwork and body movement due to the injury that has been troubling him for last couple of years, he trusted his class and experience to keep the Indians at bay.

He stood at the crease to fend off the Indian pacers, who were short on discipline and fire.

But regular breaks due to showers worked in Clarke’s favour and especially after lunch he looked a completely different batsman, using his feet to clinical precision against the debutant leg-spinner Karn. He also batted well against Varun Aaron, hitting him through cover and point.

Clarke’s knock comprised 18 boundaries and it came at a strike rate of 78.52, Smith hit 21 fours and his knock came at a strike rate of 70.12.

What didn’t help the Indians were the missed chances as Smith was dropped twice albeit after scoring his fifth ton.

First, when he was batting on 131, he danced down the track and missed a flighted delivery from leggie Karn Sharma but wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha failed to collect the ball properly.

Later, when he was on 161, Ishant misjudged a catch and ran behind instead of moving forward towards the ball at deep fine leg. He dived but it dropped few metres in front of him.

Wednesday’s play started 10 minutes late as overnight batsman Smith and Clarke did well to help their team reach the 400-run mark before drizzle forced an early lunch break.

After Mohammed Shami bowled four deliveries to complete the 90th over, Smith cut a short ball from Ishant Sharma through backward point to make his intentions clear.

He again punished Ishant in his next over with two cracking punches through covers as the Indian persisted with short and wide deliveries.

He reached his three figures by tucking a Shami delivery towards the deep mid-wicket for a couple. As part of his celebration, he ran towards the ground where late Phillip Hughe’s number 408 was written.

He looked skywards and was hugged by an emotional captain.

Mitchell Johnon (batting 0) was at the crease with Smith when the play was called off for the day due to bad light.

(IANS)

Will stay away from IPL till panel's decision: Srinivasan to SC

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Senior counsel Kapil Sibal told a bench of Justice T.S. Thakur and Justice F.M.I. Kalifulla that Srinivasan would stay away from the governing council and its activities

srinivasan

New Delhi: N. Srinivasan, the Indian cricket board’s sidelined chief, Wednesday told the Supreme Court that if he is re-elected, he would stay away from the Indian Premier League (IPL) governing council till a proposed committee decides on the larger question of conflict of between his BCCI role and his IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings.

Responding to a poser from the court Tuesday, senior counsel Kapil Sibal told a bench of Justice T.S. Thakur and Justice F.M.I. Kalifulla that Srinivasan would stay away from the governing council and its activities and also from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) meetings related to the IPL.

Sibal said: “Mr. N. Srinivasan, further undertakes that if he is elected as president of BCCI, till the (proposed) committee suggests the procedure to deal with the issue of conflict of interest, he will not attend any IPL governing council meeting or any other IPL related discussion in ant meeting of working committee or general body meeting of the BCCI.”

This the court was told in a note on the scope of reference of the committee to be appointed by the apex court or the BCCI into the question of conflict of interest. The note said the committee could suggest “the sanctions to be imposed, in accordance with the applicable IPL rules on person prima facie found to be involved in the act of backing by the Mudgal Committee.”

The committee may also determine the liability of the franchisees for the act of backing by their “team officials and to suggest the consequential sanctions that can be imposed on them in accordance with the IPL rules.”

The note said that another term of reference for the proposed committee would be to “consider and suggest a mechanism to identify the potential conflict of interest in the BCCI and to suggest the procedure to be adopted for dealing with situations of potential conflict of interest.”

Sibal said this during the hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by Cricket Association of Bihar which has sought to oust Srinivasan as BCCI president on the ground of his being in the conflict of interest situation being the president of the cricketing body and also the owner of CSK.

The PIL is also seeking the cancellation of IPL franchisee CSK on the ground of Srinivasan’s son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan’s alleged involvement in betting.

(IANS)

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