Friday, 29 Mar, 2024

Sports

Australia Stays In Command At Woolloongabba 

Saleque Sufi | banglanews24.com
Update: 2021-01-17 12:36:52
Australia Stays In Command At Woolloongabba  [photo collected]

ICC Test Championship 
Border Gavaskar Test Series; Vodaphone Test Series 
4th Test 
Australia VS India Played at Woolloongabba, Brisbane from 15-19 January 2021 

Brief Score Card At Stumps Day Two; 
Australia 1st Innings 369 All Out in 115.2 Overs  (Marnus Labuchangne 108, Tim Paine 50, Matthew Wade 47, Steve Smith 36, Nathan Lyon 24, Mitchel Starc 20*, Shardul Thakur 3/67, Washington Sudar 3/ 89, Shardul Thakur 3/94) 
India 1st Innings: 62/2 in 26 Overs (Rohit Sharma 44, Nathan Lyon 1/10 , Pat Cummins 1/22) 
India Trails Australia by 307 Runs with 8 First Innings Wicket at hand.

Ball continues ruling over the bat as at stumps of rain curtailed day two Australia stays at command of Gabba test. Wicket is still playing easy but confused Indian batting found them in discomfort after star batsman Rohit Sharma setting his root at the wicket threw it away scoring 44. Responding reasonably good Australian 1st Innings score of 369 all out, India was looking shaky losing both the openers Shuvman Gill (7) and Rohit (44) at 62/2.  Australia desperately needs winning the test and the series for recovering Border Gavaskar trophy and consolidating their position among the top two in ICC Test ranking. 

Rain may continue interfering in day three as well. But it will largely depend how long and how far Rahane, Pujara, Pant and others can carry on. Wicket may look different from day three. First session of day three would be series defining. Indian batsmen must show positive intent through scoring runs and not shutting the door too early. Off course Australian bowlers would exploit every single opportunity leaving nothing unturned to offset Indian challenge. 

Australia started day two at comfortable position at 274/5. Two overnight batsmen Tim Paine and Cameroon were looking in not too discomfort. Cannot also say second string Indian attack depleted further for injury to Saini also was not collared. The 6th wicket pair added valuable 98 runs before Pain (50), Green (47) and Cummins (2) fell within space of 4 runs triggering a mini late middle order collapse. However, Nathan Lyon playing his 100th test stuck some meaty blows in his 22 balls 24 and Starc remaining unbeaten on 20 took Australian innings past 350 to 369 considered reasonably good score in the context of the contest.  Less experienced Indian bowlers Shardul Thakur 3/67, Washington Sudar 3/ 89, Shardul Thakur 3/94 did not let Australians bat India out of the match as well. 

Indian response started disastrously through Gill getting snapped up early in the slips by Smith off the bowling of Cummins. Rohit and Pujara were consolidating the Indian innings. Rohit was punishing infrequent loose deliveries and Pujara was as usual stonewalling. But unlike a responsible batsman playing for his team Rohit’s flamboyance cost him his wicket at 44. He unnecessarily tried to blast a flighted delivery of Lyon and holed out in the deep after scoring 44.  Indian Great Sunil Gavaskar blasted Rohit’s belligerence. On Gabba wicket batsman getting start must carry on and not throw it way. It was a crime for a senior professional like Rohit. India in 26 overs possible before afternoon shower brought early end of the days play reached 62/2. India has to bat at least two more sessions for staying in the match.
 
Nathan Lyon needs 3 more wickets for reaching 400 test wickets in his 100th test. Australia needs winning the test to extend their glorious record of 31 years without losing a test at Gabba. Can India achieve the milestone of winning a test in Gabba? 

BDST: 1236 HRS, JAN 17, 2021
SMS

All rights reserved. Sale, redistribution or reproduction of information/photos/illustrations/video/audio contents on this website in any form without prior permission from banglanews24.com are strictly prohibited and liable to legal action.