The second day of the ongoing first Test of the four-match Test series between India and Australia in Nagpur ended with the Indian team taking a lead of 144 runs over the opposition team on Friday. Indian skipper Rohit Sharma smashed a brilliant century. This was his 9th hundred in Test cricket. Allrounders Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, both scored half-centuries.
At the end of the second day, Patel is unbeaten on 52 runs while Jadeja is unbeaten on 66 runs and the team’s score was 321/7. Australian spinners were bowling well as they dismissed five Indian batters on the score of 168 runs. However, things turned up when Axar joined Jadeja and the duo really wore out the Aussie bowlers with their defense and attack. Axar was the aggressor in that unbeaten 81-run stand.
Brilliant bowling by debutant Todd Murphy
Australian debutant Todd Murphy achieved a big achievement of five-wicket haul in his first Test match that too on Indian soil. Murphy has so far dismissed KL Rahul (20), Ravichandran Ashwin (23), Cheteshwar Pujara (7), Virat Kohli (12), and KS Bharat (8). While Nathan Lyon took the wicket of Suryakumar Yadav who was also playing his first Test match.
Australian skipper Pat Cummins, who looked off color till the afternoon bowled a brilliant spell with the second new ball where he sent Rohit’s off stump cartwheeling after a dropped chance at slip in the same over. Earlier, India bundled out Australia for 177 runs in the first innings with five wickets from Jadeja, who was returning to international cricket after a knee injury. India scored 77 runs on one wicket on the first day.
The hosts are eyeing a big lead now as they already have 144 runs lead. The pitch is still good enough to carry on if the batters adapt. The Aussies quickly need to wrap this up and dig deep tomorrow to stay in the game. Fans will expect the Kangaroos to bat responsibly in the 3rd innings and put up a good fight in order to make a good comeback.
Here’s how the fans reacted:
India ka khauf one of greatest fielder dropped 2 catches ???
— Abuseena (@tellonted) February 10, 2023
Well made 50s from two left-handers have shut Australia's door of making a comeback into the game
— Mrinango C.Borty (VK fan) (@ViratKo66279185) February 10, 2023
Tell jadeja to show some aggressiveness in batting tomorrow,the match gets very boring today,hashhhhh..
— ..?????..???????.. (@KBC03931185) February 10, 2023
Smith dropped a vital catch in the penultimate ball
— Tom Gravestone (@Whygravestone) February 10, 2023
Gud to see smith is giving tough competition to Virat Kohli..
— Kumardeepak (@geekydeepak888) February 10, 2023
KL Rahul whole day pic.twitter.com/VbSFCjMPtT
— ??????? (@93prateik) February 10, 2023
The pitch was doctored to make batting impossible for the left handers. Jadeja and Axar have put on an unbeaten 81 runs partnership ?
— Prantik (@Pran__07) February 10, 2023
Kl rahul ko bhi axer patel se ?kuch sikhna chaiye
— Mahaveer Rathi (@MahaveerRathi12) February 10, 2023
Sir jadega entering into dressing room pic.twitter.com/m3NkTNglR1
— Prasun Jha (@jprasun21) February 10, 2023
