Adelaide: Indian bowlers once again exposed the chinks in jittery Australian batting line-up leaving the hosts tottering at 104/4 in pursuit of a tough target of 323 on the fourth day of the first Test, Sunday.
With 219 runs required on a fifth day track, it will be an onerous job for the Australian batsmen, who have been struggling against a consistent Indian attack with their ultra defensive approach.
R Ashwin (2/44) and Mohammed Shami (2/15) were impressive during the final session as Australia lost three wickets in Marcus Harris (26), Usman Khawaja (8) and Peter Handscomb (14). At end of play, Shaun Marsh (31 batting) and Travis Head (11 batting) were at the crease.
After tea, Australia had an early reprieve when Cheteshwar Pujara failed to latch onto a tough chance at first slip from opener Harris, then on 14 not out, off Shami. However, Shami, in his next spell, managed to etch out Harris’ wicket.
The big blow to Australia’s dim hopes of winning this Test came when the dogged Khawaja was caught in the deep off Ashwin as he tried to clear mid-off. The mistimed skier was caught by Rohit Sharma, who judged well and dived in-front to take the catch.
Handscomb and Marsh then added 24 runs for fourth wicket before Shami again hurt the hosts dismissing Handscomb.
This was after India lost five wickets for 25 runs in the post lunch session to set a 323-run target. The visitors were bowled out for 307 in their second innings thanks largely to some atrocious shot selection from the lower-middle order.
At tea, Australia reached 28/1, after the early departure of Aaron Finch (11). Ashwin nabbed him before tea, as the ball seemed to have brushed his gloves before looping up for keeper Rishabh Pant to claim an easy catch. Replays showed that Finch had made a mistake not going for the DRS review as there was nothing on snickometer or hotspot.
Earlier, India only added 47 runs for their last five wickets after resumption of play post lunch. Pant (28, 16b, 4×4, 1×6) continued attacking Nathan Lyon (6/122) but didn’t last long.
It started the Indian slide. Ashwin (5) and Ajinkya Rahane (70, 147b, 7×4) played uncharacteristic strokes, indicating that a declaration was forthcoming. But India never got to that point.
Starting from overnight 151/3, India made good progress through the first session as Pujara (71, 204b, 9×4) and Rahane ground down the Australian attack with an 87-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Australia finally got a breakthrough with Pujara’s dismissal. Rohit (1) got out cheaply before Pant joining Rahane at the middle.
Brief scores: India 250 & 307 (Ajinkya Rahane 70; Nathan Lyon 6/122); Australia 235 & 104/4 (Shaun Marsh 31 batting; Mohammed Shami 2/15). Match to continue.
