Brisbane, Dec 19: India were pushed to the wall by Aussie skipper Steve Smith (133, 191b, 13×4, 2×6) and the Oz tail which wagged merrily and helped their side reach 505 all out – a lead of 97 runs here Friday in the second Test. Chasing the deficit, India were 71 for the loss of Murali Vijay’s wicket at stumps at the Gabba. Shikhar Dhawan (27 batting, 39b, 4×4) and Chesteshwar Pujara (15 batting, 35b, 2×4) were at the crease when play ended.
The Australians were struggling at 247 for six before staging an amazing comeback with contributions from Mitchell Johnson (88, 93b, 13×4, 1×6), Mitchell Starc (52, 59b, 6×4), Josh Hazlewood (32 n o, 50b, 7×4) and Nathan Lyon (23, 23b, 3×4). Smith became the ninth Australian to score a century on his captaincy debut. The last four Australian wickets added 258 runs to virtually take the game away from India, who looked like taking the first-innings lead at one stage. And they were aided by the Indian pacers who were guilty of bowling too many loose deliveries.
Resuming the day on overnight 221 for four Australia lost Mitchell Marsh for the addition of just 11 runs to Ishant Sharma (3/117) before Varun Aaron (2/145) had Brad Haddin caught at short-leg. But the Indian bowlers struggled thereafter as the duo of Smith and Johnson added 148 runs for the seventh wicket to put the hosts back in command. The runs came off just 26 overs, giving ample indication of the way they punished the visiting side’s bowlers.
With the two batsmen going strong, Australia went to lunch at 351 for six, and consolidated their position thereafter to be sitting pretty at 503 for nine at the tea break.
However, the Indians wrapped up the innings soon after tea with last man Starc being bowled by Ravichandran Ashwin (2/128), bringing some relief to the visitors who toiled in the first two sessions.
Dhawan opened the innings with Vijay as India looked to bat out the last session and maintain the equilibrium in the Test. Vijay started off well with a string of boundaries and he was looking good at the crease. But a charged-up Starc (1/10) removed him in the 11th over of the innings, the batsman playing on to his stumps.
Scoreboard
India (1st innings): 408 all out;
Australia (1st innings, overnight 221 for 4): Steven Smith b Ishant 133, Mitchell Marsh b Ishant 11, Brad Haddin c Pujara b Aaron 6, Mitchell Johnson c Dhoni b Ishant 67, Mitchell Starc b Ashwin 52, Nathan Lyon c Rohit b Aaron 23, Josh Hazlewood n o 32, Extras (w-5, nb-10, lb-4) 19; Total (all out) 505.
Fall: 1-47, 2-98, 3-121, 4-208, 5-232, 6-247, 7-395, 8-398, 9-454, 10-505.
Bowling: Ishant 23-2-117-3, Aaron 26-1-145-2, Yadav 25-4-101-3, Ashwin 33.4-4-128-2, Sharma 2-0-10-0.
India (second innings): Murali Vijay b Starc 27, Shikhar Dhawan batting 26, Cheteshwar Pujara batting 15, Extras (lb-2, nb-1) 3, Total (for one wicket) 71.
Fall: 1-41.
Bowling: Johnson 8-3-29-0, Hazlewood 6-0-24-0, Starc 4-1-10-1, Watson 5-3-6-0.
PTI