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India vs Australia 2014-15, 2nd Test at Brisbane, Day 2: Australia reach 221/4 at stumps

Catch the live updates of the second day's play in second Test between India and Australia at Brisbane.

Umesh Yadav removed both the Australian openers © Getty Images
Umesh Yadav removed both the Australian openers © Getty Images

Dec 18, 2014

Catch the Live Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary of the second Test between India and Australia

(Can a spirited India level the series under MS Dhoni, or will Steven Smith win the first Test of his career as captain to make it 2-0 for Australia in the series? Catch live cricket scores of the match here)

Hello and welcome to CricketCountry’s live blog of the second day’s play between India and Australia at The Gabba in Brisbane on Thursday. This is Devarchit Varma, and I will be bringing you the updates from the play on Day Two.

India will resume their first innings at 311 for four, with Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma at the crease. The tourists produced a fine show with the bat on the first day, with Murali Vijay cracking his fourth ton against Australia and overall fifth of his career. On the other hand, Rahane looked as scratchy as Shikhar Dhawan in the start, but consolidated well to notch up the sixth half-century of his career. Catch the highlights of the first day’s play here

For the Australians, it was an ordinary day on the field. Mitchell Johnson did get some bounce and assistance from the pitch but he could not make much difference. Mitchell Starc struggled under the heat, and so did the debutant Josh Hazlewood. Mitchell Marsh suffered soreness in hamstring and walked off the field after getting one wicket, and Australia would certainly be worried over the fitness of their bowlers. Read: Murali Vijay continues to make impressive progress

India would be eyeing anything above the mark of 400 to challenge Australia in their backyard, as they produced a fine show on the first day to make their intentions clear about the comeback in this four-match series, wherein they trail by 48 runs after losing the first Test at the Adelaide Oval. All set for play as the cricketers take field…

Bad light has stopped play at The Gabba. And it has been confirmed that will be all for today. 

S Smith 65 (88), M Marsh 7 (22)
Bad light has forced players to go off the field, and this will be all for today. Australia are 187 runs behind India’s total in first innings and they will need one or two big partnerships in the middle to thwart India’s threat.

 

Mitchell Marsh has joined his captain out there in the middle. Good for Australia as Mitchell had walked off the field after soreness in the hamstring. India attacking with R Ashwin and Umesh yadav at the moment.

 

After that embarassing drop in the last over, India would be kicking themselves for not getting another wicket. But nevertheless, Umesh Yadav has ticked all boxes right today and continues to do so. Here, he gets Shaun Marsh caught by R Ashwin for 32.
OUT! S Marsh c Ashwin b Umesh 32 (70)

 

Steven Smith completes his first half-century as Australia captain, his effort is applauded by the crowd at The Gabba.

 

Steven Smith is looking in fanstatic touch as he has raced to 43 not out with four boundaries and two massive sixes off R Ashwin. He has now added 65 runs with Marsh.

 

 

  And this is how Shikhar Dhawan celebrated the wicket of Shane Watson after taking a fine low catch.

 

 

 

Shaun Marsh has so far looked at ease in the middle and so has Steven Smith. Australia need a big partnership and their new captain would be highly motivated to score few runs here. Ishant and Ashwin bowling in tandem for India.

 

 

 

Something for the Indian fans to cheer about… Speeds628

 

 

Play has resumed after the tea break and India would be looking to continue making inroads in this Australian line-up.

 

 

  Australia have given India a bit of opening with three wickets. Shaun Marsh is likely to join Steven Smith when play resumes post tea, and it will be a big challenge for him. He had a torrid time when India toured last time around. Here’s the second session report.

 

 

Umesh Yadav has taken his second wicket as Chris Rogers’ resistance is finally ended. India stuck to continue bowling short and this time Rogers failed to keep one down that came sharply on him. MS Dhoni takes a fine catch. Time for the tea break.

 

 

 

OUT! C Rogers c Dhoni b U Yadav 55 (79)

 

 

 

Half-century for Chris Rogers as he has been Australia’s best batsman so far in this innings. He brings up the fifty off 75 balls and 10 boundaries. Fine effort, also completes 1,200 runs in Test cricket.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another failure for Shane Watson in this series as R Ashwin has removed him after a brief stay at the crease. India get their second wicket. Looking to charge, Watson ended up giving a catch to the Indian fielder at mid-on.

 

 

 

OUT! S Watson c Dhawan b Ashwin 25 (29)

 

 

 

Chris Rogers is battling to remain in the side and he has done great deal of work in this innings to ensure that. India looking a little desperate now to get wickets.

 

 

 

 

 

MS Dhoni came really close to the batsman’s end and told Ishant Sharma in Hindi to not worry about anything else and bowl the line that he wants to. Both Rogers and Watson have done well to survive as the Indians are attacking at the moment.

 

 

 

 

 

Umesh Yadav bowled it back of length and David Warner did not get enough room to play that. He got top edge and R Ashwin took a simple catch at first slip. India draw the first blood!

 

 

 

OUT! Warner c Ashwin b U Yadav 29 (28)

 

 

 

Ishant Sharma is bowling a little too full from either sides of the wicket and David Warner is cashing in on the deliveries to score off. He has already hit five fours now.

 

 

 

 

 

Ishant starts proceedings for India, Rogers on strike. Good start, dot ball to start with. Ishant getting a bit of movement here. That’s four through cover off the last ball, not quite off the middle of the bat though. Varun Aaron opens the bowling at the other end. Just a run off that over. Good start from India so far.

 

 

  Different day, but familiar collapse by India. Thanks to Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Ravichandran Ashwin, who added 57 runs to take India past 400 otherwise the tail would never have fought on this wicket. Josh Hazlewood registers five-for on debut, and he will be delighted to have achieved the feat. The players take lunch and here’s Shiamak Unwalla’s session report.

 

 

The last man is dismissed as India have been bowled out for 408 on the second day. It’s been Australia’s session as they fought back to take six more wickets and not let India dominate. Full marks to Josh Hazlewood, who put behind the troubles on the first day and came out strong to take five wickets on debut.

 

 

 

OUT! U Yadav c Chris Rogers b Lyon 9 (21)

 

 

 

Fine catch by the substitute fielder at short-leg as Nathan Lyon gets his third wicket in the innings, in form of Varun Aaron. India have really lost wickets in a heap today.

 

 

 

OUT! Aaron c (sub)Marnus b Lyon 4(11)

 

 

 

There it is!!! Josh Hazlewood bags his fifth wicket on debut and Brad Haddin takes the sixth catch in the innings, as they team up together to get rid of the Indian captain MS Dhoni.

 

 

 

OUT! Dhoni c Haddin b Hazlewood 33 (53)

 

 

 

 

A fine innings by Ravichandran Ashwin comes to an end as Josh Hazelwood gets him caught at the first slip. Ashwin may have come after Dhoni, but he zipped past him with a fluent 37-run knock that was studded with six fours.

 

 

 

OUT! R Ashwin c Watson b Hazlewood 35 (41)

 

 

 

MS Dhoni and R Ashwin have not only steadied the Indian innings but have also led their charge towards the 400-run mark. Their partnership is of 45 runs now. India would like these two to take them through to the end of the first session. India have scored 62 runs in 15 overs so far today with the loss of two wickets.

 

 

 

 

 

Ravichandran Ashwin is in at No. 8 and he is looking pretty neat in the middle. Ends Mitchell Johnson’s spell with a confident backfoot punch for three, as his partner MS Dhoni pulls and then hits a straight drive to keep India going.

 

 

 

 

 

Big wicket! Shane Watson comes in as the first change this morning and gets the key wicket of Rohit Sharma, who got lured into driving a ball way outside the off-stump. India have lost two wickets in since morning with both overnight batsmen back in the pavilion. Steven Smith takes a superb catch to get rid of the Indian batsman, who once again squanders an opportunity.

 

 

 

OUT! ! Rohit c S Smith b Watson 32 (55)

 

 

 

 

 

After a fine cover drive for four, Ajinkya Rahane is caught behind for 81 as Josh Hazlewood provided Australia the much-needed breakthrough early on the second day!

 

 

 

OUT! A Rahane c Haddin b Hazlewood 81(132)

 

 

 

Josh Hazlewood starts the proceedings on what is expected to be another hot and humid day in Brisbane. India add one run in the first over with Ajinkya Rahane taking a single.

 

 

 

 


Catch the Live Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary of the second Test between India and Australia

In photos: India vs Australia, 2nd Test at Brisbane

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