The post lunch session in the India vs Australia first Test in Pune proved to be a total massacre for the Indian batting lineup which collapsed just like a house of cards before the Aussie spin attack. After losing three early wickets on Day 2 of the first game of the Test series between India and Australia, KL Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane went back on the crease to carry the inning forward as they were trailed by 190 runs. It was pretty understood by both the sides that the pitch has deteriorated in such a way that it will also trouble the hosts and it did for sure. Fighting against all the odds, KL Rahul somehow managed to cross the mark of 50 runs and gradually moved forward to the 64 run mark but then came the typhoon!
It was Steve O’Keefe who dismissed KL Rahul at 64 when the right-handed opener opted for a mistimed shot which hurt his shoulder as well. Within no time, just after one ball, O’Keefe got Rahane and sent him back to the pavilion at 13 (55). After that, the entire scenario seemed to be going in the favour of the Aussies. Damaging the entire batting line up, Keefe took six-for and hunted down KL Rahul, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, Jayant Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav and Umesh Yadav.
O’Keefe sparks stunning Indian collapse: https://t.co/Va9hJChhvr #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/ecEa14tbQa
— cricket.com.au Video (@CricketVideo) February 24, 2017
W 1 W . W . . . . . . . 1 W 1 . . . W 1 . . 1 W
Steve O’Keefe, take a bow! What a spell #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/77O33mOFwI
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) February 24, 2017
After Rahane’s dismissal, the team was reduced 95/5 and half of the top order were in the pavilion. And after lunch, within 38 minutes, the entire Indian batting was destroyed brutally and the hosts were barred by the Kangaroos at 105 runs.
Taking a lead of 155, the Australians came back on the field to bat and set a target big enough for the Indians to chase. Retired hurt due to stomach illness in the first innings, Matt Renshaw didn’t open this time with David Warner but a duo of Warner and Marsh took the responsibility to take the caravan ahead.
Skipper Kohli, taking lessons from their short-timed batting stint, assigned R Ashwin to start the spell. Ashwin, who took 3 wickets in the first innings, didn’t waste time and dismissed David Warner in the last ball of the very first over. Soon, Ashwin found his second prey in the form of Shaun Marsh and dismissed him for a golden duck. Warner got out at 10 (6) while Shaun Marsh departed at 0 (21).
At the tea break, Australia stood at a score of 46/2. Steve Smith 27*(48) and Peter Handscomb 8* (21) are on the crease and will now be looking on to increase their lead from 201 runs.
