Connect with us

Cricket

Patel-Ashwin rescues India

India Australia Cricket

Patel-Ashwin rearguard display rescues India after Lyon blows

NEW DELHI, Feb 18 (Reuters) – Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin gave a spectacular rearguard response to help India overcome Nathan Lyon’s spin masterclass as the hosts nearly matched Australia’s first-innings 263 on a dramatic day two of the second test on Saturday.

Patel smashed 74 and dominated his 114-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Ashwin to help India post 262 all out having slumped to 139-7 in the second session.

Australia moved to 61-1 in the final 12 overs of the day though they lost Usman Khawaja, their top scorer in the first innings, to a stunning reflex catch at leg slip by Shreyas Iyer.

Travis Head was batting on a run-a-ball 39 at stumps, with Marnus Labuschagne on 16 at the other end.”If we can restrict them to 220-250 in the second innings, I think that would be ideal,” Patel told reporters.”The wicket is getting slower. We’ll have to work really hard and bowl consistently in the right areas because wickets won’t come easily.”

Earlier, having bowled out Australia for a modest total on Friday, India were in cruise control at 46 for no loss before Lyon (5-67) turned the match on its head. The off-spinner mowed down India’s top order to leave them reeling at 66-4.

Australia blew all three reviews inside 25 overs but Lyon, leading the tourists’ three-pronged spin attack, kept chipping away at India’s top order.

The off-spinner trapped KL Rahul lbw for 17 and, two balls later, had a strong lbw appeal against Cheteshwar Pujara turned down.

See also  MS Dhoni steps down; Jadeja leads as CSK captain in the IPL 2022

Virat Kohli (44) combined with Ravindra Jadeja in a 59-run stand to stage a mini-recovery but both fell to spinners in the second session.

Todd Murphy removed Jadeja for 26 but debutant Matt Kuhnemann dealt a bigger blow when he trapped Kohli lbw for his maiden test wicket.

Australia looked poised for a significant first-innings lead but Patel and Ashwin forged the only century-plus partnership of the match to frustrate them.

All-rounder Patel brought up his fifty in style, hitting Kahneman over deep mid-wicket for a six.

Cummins dismissed Ashwin for 37 and took a stunning catch at mid-wicket to send back Patel as India were all out for 262.

“Obviously I’ve got an eye on this whole test match and what role I have to play in the second innings,” Lyon said of his display. “Very, very happy but still a lot of work to do.”

Australia opener David Warner, who was struck in the head while batting on Friday, has been ruled out of the rest of the match with Matt Renshaw coming in as the concussion substitute.

India are 1-0 ahead in the four-test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy following their comprehensive victory in Nagpur.

Advertisement

Follow me on Twitter

Advertisement

Cricket News

Facebook

Advertisement

Latest News

More in Cricket

  • PBKS vs RR IPL 2023 PBKS vs RR IPL 2023

    PBKS vs RR IPL 2023

    Jaiswal, Padikkal and Hetmyer’s cameos help RR beat PBKS by 4 wickets IPL 2023...

  • Kohli-42 Kohli-42

    SRH vs RCB IPL 2023

    Kohli’s 100 sends Royal Challengers Bangalore to 4th position in points table SRH vs...

  • PBKS vs DC IPL 2023 PBKS vs DC IPL 2023

    PBKS vs DC IPL 2023

    Delhi Capitals win by 15 runs Punjab Kings faced Delhi Capitals in high-voltage match of IPL on...

  • LSG vs MI IPL 2023 LSG vs MI IPL 2023

    LSG vs MI IPL 2023

    Mohsin Khan defends 11 in final over as Lucknow beat Mumbai by 5 runs...