- विज्ञापन -
Adelaide: A fiery comeback spell from Australian pacer Mitchell Starc stopped India in its tracks, reducing them to 82/4 at the end of the first session on the first day of the second Test at Adelaide Oval on Friday. At Tea, India was 82/4, Rishabh Pant (4*) and skipper Rohit Sharma (1*) unbeaten.
After electing to bat first, India was off to a poor start as opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was trapped leg-before-wicket plumb on the first ball of the innings. India was 0/1.
Following that, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul was the pair at the crease which had to see off the new, shiny, pink-ball. On his return from a thumb injury, Gill made his attacking intentions clear with two classy boundaries against Mitchell Starc, who had just taken Jaiswal’s wicket.
Gill was targetting Starc really well, hitting him for an odd boundary. Rahul was caught behind by wicketkeeper Alex Carey on a delivery by Scott Boland in the eigth over, but to the delight of fans, it was a no ball.
At the end of first 10 overs, India was 30/1, with Gill (19*) and KL (9*) unbeaten. Rahul, who looked in supreme touch in the Perth Test, showcased it to the Adelaide crowd with some fine drives, including two successive boundaries against Aussie skipper Pat Cummins in 15th over, which took India to 50-run mark in 14.5 overs. KL (26*) and Gill (25*) were seeing off the pace trio of Cummins, Boland and Starc really well with patience, punishing loose balls with disdainful drives.
KL’s stay at the crease was ended by Starc with a fine catch from Nathan McSweeney at gully. KL was gone for 37 in 64 balls, with six fours. India was 69/2 in 18.4 overs.
Virat Kohli was also looking good, but was caught in slips by Steve Smith, with Starc getting him for just seven runs. India was 77/3 in 20.1 overs. India’s downfall continued, with Gill being trapped lbw by Boland for 31 in 51 balls, with five fours. India was 81/4 in 21.1 overs. At session end, Rishabh and Rohit were unbeaten.
