India vs Australia (IND vs AUS) 2nd Test Day 2 Live Cricket Score Online Updates: India were 189/5 at Tea, trailing by 6 runs.
They had resumed at 36 for one on Day 2 of the second Test in Melbourne with debutant Shubman Gill 28 not out and Cheteshwar Pujara on seven. Gill survived a few nervy moments in the morning before being dismissed for 45. Pujara followed soon after, both snared by Pat Cummins. Ajinkya Rahane and Hanuma Vihari (21) stuck on till the end of the morning session. Rahane was joined by Rishabh Pant (29) after the Lunch break, whose counter-attack swung the momentum India’s way.
Australia v India Test Series 2020/2021
2nd Test, MCG, Melbourne, 25 Dec, 2020
IND 216 / 5 (73.2)
vs
AUS 195 / 10 (72.3)
BatsmenRB
Ajinkya Rahane70 146
Ravindra Jadeja14 49
BowlersORWKT
Mitchell Starc16.0 49 2
Pat Cummins18.0 51 2
India are now leading the hosts at the MCG! Both Rahane (64*) and Jadeja (12*) are slowly building on their partnership with the former setting the tone. The stand-in captain is occasionally smacking some beauties to the boundary rope. IND: 208/5 (70 ovs)
The covers are rolled back and now it's time for the third session! India have a tricky end to the day as batting after rain against a new ball is never easy. Rahane (53*) and Jadeja (7*) continue in the middle. Seven runs off Starc's over. IND: 192/5 (64 ovs)
Jadeja and Rahane see through to the end of the session. India have taken a firm step towards ascendancy in that session. Some rain has come down to bring an early Tea. Just a light shower at the moment. But it's India who look likely to rain down a shower of sorrows when play resumes.
Starc strikes! Pant nicks one through to the keeper. 250 Test wickets for Starc and Australia will be happy to see the back of Pant. He was threatening to cause a lot of damage. He goes for 29 off 40. In comes another notorious damage-inflicter, Ravindra Jadeja. IND 173/5, trail by 22
Double change in the bowling, with Starc replacing Cummins. Pant and Rahane have forced Australia to react to pressure. We're not far from when India will start piling on a lead now. Pant's counter-attack has come as quite the recoil from the Rahane-Vihari-Pujara resistance. IND 171/4, trail by 24
Cummins gets an opportunity. Pant slashes, gets an edge, but is dropped by Cameron Green at gully. Sharp chance, but Pant survives. As reward, it's Green himself who is brought back into the attack. Rahane drives him down the ground for four. 50 partnership comes up between Rahane and Pant. IND 166/4, trail by 29
Pant continues in his merry way against Lyon too, cracks a four through the covers as the spinner bowls short. India cross 150 in the 53rd over. Pant batting at a strike rate of 100 at the moment. Rahane also having a go against the bad balls from time to time now. Pant's counter-attack has swung the momentum in India's favour. IND 157/4 after 55, trail by 38
Pant pulls for four. Cummins is being taken for a lot of runs in this session. He took the two wickets to fall in the morning, but finds himself under pressure now. Pant slashes again - a four to deep backward point. All the flamboyance is coming out now from Pant, he gets into double digits. Rahane seen having a conversation with Pant, maybe to rein him in a bit. IND 147/4 after 52, trail by 48
Rahane gets a few shots through the gaps on either side of the wicket. Pant and Rahane ensure India have the best of the opening hour of the second session. India get to 134/4 in 50 overs. The deficit comes down more and more fluently. India now trail by 60 runs.
Nathan Lyon the cynosure now. Rishabh Pant comes in at 6 and there is an ominous atmosphere as he plays his first few balls. The MCG drums up as Lyon bowls to Pant - the left-hander already flashing at a few. Rahane still maintains a compact form, getting on to the backfoot to deal with Lyon's spin. IND 122/4 after 47
A top edge from Vihari against Hazlewood lands safely - he would have had his heart in his mouth. He plays a late cut for four against Lyon. But is then out! Goes for the sweep, gets another top edge, this time it proves fatal. Did Vihari try to go for too many shots too soon? He is out for 21. IND 116/4 after 44.4
Lyon and Hazlewood operate for Australia from either end. Vihari gets a four against some sharp spin from Lyon. Rahane cracks a four off Hazlewood. Some more intent from the pair in the session. The deficit comes down to double digits. IND 112/3 after 44
All set for the second session. Rahane and Vihari - neither exactly flagbearers of Virat Kohli's 'new India' - resume India's dogged fight in the middle. Australia start the session like they had the first, with Hazlewood cruising in. Vihari leaves.
End of first session. India are 90/3 after 37 overs, still trailing by 105 runs. Rahane and Vihari have stuck on till the end of the session, their partnership worth 26 off 80 balls. The session ends with Lyon almost getting Rahane with an edge but the ball flies just wide of the fielder.
Lyon brought on for the first time in the 35th over. Rahane, Vihari defend. Starc allowed to carry on his spell from the other end. Rahane, Vihari still defend. Trying times for the visitors, but if Rahane and Vihari manage to grind it out, India are poised to take the other hand. Rahane manages to get a few runs with a clip off the pads. 106 runs the deficit now. IND 89/3 after 36
Rahane gets his first boundary, via an outside edge that flies through between slips and gully. We've seen a few of those this morning. Starc almost gets an edge to go through to the keeper. Rahane needs to hold out through to the end. IND 87/3 after 34
It's Starc and Hazlewwo who Australia are deploying with the last few minutes of the morning session coming up. Runs are at a premium at the moment, but Rahane has finally gotten off the mark. Starc goes up in LBW appeal against Vihari, but again, nothing doing. IND 82/3 after 32
Cummins bowls his 8th over on the run. What endurance! Cameron Green, still searching for his first Test wicket, goes up in loud LBW appeal against Rahane, but nothing doing from Paul Reiffel. Mitchell Starc bowls his first over on Day 2 - still no Lyon, mind you - after almost one and a half hours of play. Rahane and Vihari are taking their time to get their eyes set. Vihari gets his first boundary with a clip off the pads, Rahane yet to get off the mark. IND 77/3 after 29
Hanuma Vihari joins Rahane. It's Vihari who gets off the mark first, with a straight drive which is cut off just at the ropes. India looked to have the upper hand when Pujara and Gill were batting, but Cummins's double strike has shifted the balance of the match - India still trail by almost 130 runs with Pant and the bowling attack left to come after this. IND 67/3 after 25
Rahane walks in at 4 to join Pujara. Australia persist with Cummins and Green - the former having bowled for more than an hour now. Pujara continues building his innings - brick by brick, single by single. Cancel that! Pujara is out, edging behind. Paine grabs a one-handed catch. Cummins strikes twice in two overs - finally Australia's luck is turning. Pujara is out for 14. IND 64/3 after 23.4