Kohli slammed half century
City Bell live
India Austrelia test series, popularly known as Border Gawaskar trauphy begin with a balanced start. Australia will be happy with the finish towards the end of the day. Australia started well getting early wickets but Pujara and Kohli got India well back into the game nicely! They were very patient and got a great partnership going. Pujara got himself in nicely, taking his time as always and batting for a long time. However, he couldn’t continue further. But then Rahane and Kohli batted brilliantly to get India into to a great position at one stage. They showed great patience, composure and intent to score. Kohli took his time initially and paced the innings really well. And just as India were looking in a comfortable position, there came the massive turning point of the day, that run-out of Kohli. He was well set in the seventies and looking to accelerate at that point.
And that’s the end of the first day of play of this first Test. Australia will be happy with the finish towards the end of the day. Australia started well getting early wickets but Pujara and Kohli got India well back into the game nicely! They were very patient and got a great partnership going. Pujara got himself in nicely, taking his time as always and batting for a long time. However, he couldn’t continue further. But then Rahane and Kohli batted brilliantly to get India into to a great position at one stage. They showed great patience, composure and intent to score. Kohli took his time initially and paced the innings really well. And just as India were looking in a comfortable position, there came the massive turning point of the day, that run-out of Kohli. He was well set in the seventies and looking to accelerate at that point.
Not how Australia would have ideally wanted the wicket but from there, it looked like India just lost their way a bit in the middle! Just shortly after that, Rahane lost his wicket as well and it was a real disappointment of how all the hard-work by those two got undone in matter of just some time. But credit to the Aussies as well. Nathan Lyon bowled really well in that middle phase. So did Cummins. Starc and Hazelwood were brilliant as well, specially with the new ball! There wasn’t much movement under the lights but they were persistent with those lengths pulled back, bowling outside off and they got wickets pitching it up, good mix of lengths there. All their premiere bowlers picked wickets.
Quite a good day for Australia there. India will take it though. It wasn’t as bad as it turned out to look towards the end. They were looking well on course for 300 or more, but that’s still not out of reach. Saha and Ashwin did well there to negotiate those last few overs, also showing intent to score when the opportunity was there. That first session tomorrow morning is going to be very crucial and will decide if India can get past 300 or not. It’s going to be tough but it promises to be another exciting day of some quality cricket! Australia will go in with the momentum and a slight edge though.
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