IND vs AUS, 2nd Test, Day 2 Highlights: Centurion Ajinkya Rahane Stands Tall As India Take 82-Run Lead
India vs Australia Test Highlights: Having started Day 2 on 36/1, India finished on 277/5 at the MCG following an unbeaten century from Ajinkya Rahane.
India dominated Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test against Australia, with play brought to an end early due to rain. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane scored his 12th Test century, remaining unbeaten on 104. The 32-year-old further stitched an unbeaten partnership of 104 runs with Ravindra Jadeja (40*), helping the visitors take a lead of 82 runs. Action on Day 2 kicked off with overnight batsmen Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara looking confident initially, although they also had some luck. Just when it seemed like the initial spells were seen off, Pat Cummins struck to dismiss the duo. Gill was dismissed for 45 runs off 65 deliveries by Cummins, following an edge which carried to Tim Paine. The pacer further accounted for the wicket of Pujara, with Paine pulling off a fine one-handed catch. Rahane and Hanuma Vihari helped the visitors rebuild before the latter was dismissed for 21, handing a catch to Steve Smith off Nathan Lyon. Rishabh Pant departed for a well-made 29, with Paine completing a catch to register his 150th dismissal in Test cricket. The Australia skipper is the fastest wicketkeeper to affect 150 dismissals in Tests. However, Rahane continued to battle it out with Jadeja providing solid support at the other end. (SCORECARD)
2nd Test, Day 2 Highlights Between Australia (AUS) vs India (IND), Straight From Melbourne Cricket Ground
- 12:49 (IST)Stumps on Day 2Day 2 has ended with India enjoying a lead of 82 runs, having finished with a score of 277/5 in 91.3 overs. Ajinkya Rahane scored a ton with Ravindra Jadeja providing support at the other end, to help the visitors take control following the loss of wickets at regular intervals.
Another dominant day of Test cricket for #TeamIndia.
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 27, 2020
It was a day that is undoubtedly headlined by Captain @ajinkyarahane88, whose century (104* off 200) will go down as one of the best by an Indian captain on foreign soil.#TeamIndia 277/5 (Rahane 104*, Jadeja 40*) pic.twitter.com/zwuHWWHYjP - 12:32 (IST)Rain halts playAjinkya Rahane hurt his hand following the short delivery from Mitchell Starc, with the physio out to take a look. During this duration, the groundsmen were forced to come running in as rain stopped play.
It has started to rain and the covers are back on at the MCG.#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/FOn04Ed2o4
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 27, 2020 - 12:30 (IST)Ajinkya Rahane dropped by Travis HeadAjinkya Rahane survives as Travis Head fails to complete a diving catch. Rahane failed to negotiate a bouncer from Mitchell Starc, top-edging the ball in front of backward point. Head attempted to dive, almost completing the catch before the ball popped out at the last moment.
- 12:17 (IST)FOUR!Ajinkya Rahane brings up the 100-run stand with Ravindra Jadeja, following his 12th boundary of the innings. Rahane played a fine cover drive, hitting the ball with conviction.
A solid 100-run partnership comes up between @ajinkyarahane88 & @imjadeja.
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 27, 2020
India lead by 78 runs.
Live - https://t.co/HL6BBFdHmw #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/dUusuSrqU8 - 12:08 (IST)Ajinkya Rahane hits his 12th Test centuryAjinkya Rahane has registered his 12th Test century, following a fine boundary off a cut through backward point. Rahane has now scored his 2nd ton at the MCG.
Captain @ajinkyarahane88 leading from the front. Brings up a brilliant century. His 12th in Test cricket #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/23w9KS57fw
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 27, 2020 - 12:02 (IST)Ajinkya Rahane a boundary away from a tonAjinkya Rahane has reached 96, after completing three runs following a flick in the gap through square leg.
- 11:58 (IST)Ajinkya Rahane hits the ball to mid-wicketAjinkya Rahane hits the ball to mid-wicket, following a short delivery from Pat Cummins, completing a couple of runs.
- 11:55 (IST)Ajinkya Rahane enters the 90sAjinkya Rahane enters the 90s with a single off a full delivery, directing the ball to fine leg.
- 11:53 (IST)Ravindra Jadeja nudges the ball round the cornerRavindra Jadeja directs a delivery with slight inswing into the gap, completing a couple of runs.
- 11:45 (IST)FOUR!Ajinkya Rahane scores his 10th boundary of the innings, hitting the short and wide delivery over backward point.
- 11:39 (IST)Ajinkya Rahane enters the 80sAjinkya Rahane drives a full delivery from Pat Cummins wide of mid-off, completing a couple of runs. He is now unbeaten on 80.
- 11:38 (IST)FOUR!Ajinkya Rahane gets his ninth boundary of the innings, hitting the ball straight down the ground.
- 11:30 (IST)Steve Smith drops Ajinkya RahaneSteve Smith has dropped Ajinkya Rahane at slips, following a thick edge off a quick delivery from Mitchell Starc.
- 11:25 (IST)Ravindra Jadeja cuts the ball in front of squareRavindra Jadeja cut the short and wide delivery from Nathan Lyon in front of square, running three runs between the wickets with Rahane.
- 11:23 (IST)Ajinkya Rahane works tossed up delivery wide of mid-onAjinkya Rahane directs a tossed up delivery from Nathan Lyon wide of mid-on, for a single.
- 11:20 (IST)Rahane pulls short ball down to long legAjinkya Rahane pulls a short delivery down to long leg for a single, off Cameron Green.
- 11:08 (IST)50-run partnership between Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra JadejaAjinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja have completed a 50-run stand after the latter pushed a half-volley past Rahane for a single.
- 11:03 (IST)FOUR!Ravindra Jadeja gets his first boundary of the innings, hitting the back of a length delivery backward of point on the off-side.
- 10:54 (IST)FOUR!Ajinkya Rahane gets his 8th boundary of the innings, driving the ball through cover with some good footwork.
- 10:46 (IST)Ajinkya Rahane hits the ball square on the off-sideAjinkya Rahane directed a short and wide delivery from Mitchell Starc square on the off-side, completing two runs.
- 10:40 (IST)Ravindra Jadeja hits the ball wide of Cameron Green at gullyRavindra Jadeja cuts the ball wide of Cameron Green at gully, completing three runs with Ajinkya Rahane.
- 10:38 (IST)FOUR!Ajinkya Rahane gets his seventh boundary of the innings, hitting the ball in the gap between Steve Smith who was wide at slip, and Tim Paine.
- 10:27 (IST)FOUR!India now hold a lead of three runs as Ajinkya Rahane scores his sixth boundary of the innings. Rahane used the pace on the delivery by Mitchell Starc, hitting it past the slip cordon.
- 10:25 (IST)Easy singleRavindra Jadeja completes an easy single, after hitting a good length delivery in front of cover.
- 10:23 (IST)India trail by 2 runsIndia now trail by only two runs, as Ravindra Jadeja pulls a short delivery to long leg for a single.
- 10:21 (IST)Ravindra Jadeja pulls over mid-wicketRavindra Jadeja pulls a back of a length delivery over mid-wicket, completing three runs with Ajinkya Rahane.
- 10:20 (IST)Game set to resume yet againMitchell Starc will bowl the final three deliveries of his over, having been forced to walk away due to the rain. Ravindra Jadeja is the batsman on strike.
- 10:15 (IST)Game delayed due to wet outfieldThe match has been delayed due to a wet outfield. The covers have come off, with the umpires and groundstaff confident of a restart soon.
- 09:47 (IST)Time for Tea Break!It has started to rain, resulting in the decision to go for a Tea break. India are very close to taking a lead, following a half-century by Ajinkya Rahane.
A little bit of rain starts to fall so a great time to take the tea break #AUSvIND
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 27, 2020
SCORECARD: https://t.co/qwpaGhOixs pic.twitter.com/Xvp4LcArPi - 09:42 (IST)Another four runs coming as byesAnother four runs added to the Indian total as byes, following a short delivery from Mitchell Starc which Tim Paine failed to stop.
- 09:37 (IST)ByesFour runs added to the Indian total as byes following a yorker from Mitchell Starc which Ajinkya Rahane failed to connect off, with the ball beating Tim Paine down the leg-side.
- 09:33 (IST)Half-century for Ajinkya RahaneAjinkya Rahane completes his 23rd Test half-century, following a faint tickle down the leg-side for a boundary.
Captain @ajinkyarahane88 notches up a solid half-century, his 23rd in Tests. This is also the first individual fifty in the match.#TeamIndia are 180-5 and trail Australia by 15 runs. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/v5dSieWnCc
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 27, 2020 - 09:27 (IST)Ravindra Jadeja off the markRavindra Jadeja plays a push-drive following a fuller delivery from Mitchell Starc, getting off the mark with a triple.
- 09:23 (IST)WICKET! Rishabh Pant c Tim Paine b Mitchell Starc 29 (40)Rishabh Pant departs for 29 runs off 40 deliveries, having edged the ball to Tim Paine following a short of a length delivery from Mitchell Starc. Ravindra Jadeja is the new man in.
- 09:15 (IST)Fine drive from Ajinkya RahaneAjinkya Rahane reaches 46 after a triple, following a well-timed drive from a full delivery by Mitchell Starc.
- 09:11 (IST)50-run partnership between Rishabh Pant and Ajinkya RahaneRishabh Pant and Ajinkya Rahane have completed a 50-run partnership off 74 deliveries. Rahane directed the ball down to fine leg for a single, resulting in the milestone.
- 09:09 (IST)FOUR!Ajinkya Rahane enters the 40s with his fourth boundary of the innings. Rahane played a well timed push shot that beat the fielder at mid-off, going on to hit the fence.
- 09:08 (IST)Rishabh Pant dropped by Cameron GreenRishabh Pant has been dropped by Cameron Green on 26, following a thick edge off a fuller delivery by Pat Cummins. Green, the fielder at gully tried to dive to his left but could not hold on.
Green can't hold onto a sharp chance from Pant!
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 27, 2020
Live #AUSvIND: https://t.co/qwpaGhOixs pic.twitter.com/oU79PQQxCW - 09:02 (IST)Ajinkya Rahane beats backward pointAjinkya Rahane beats backward point with a cut shot following a short delivery which had extra bounce, completing a couple of runs.
- 09:00 (IST)Ajinkya Rahane hits ball wide of short fine legAjinkya Rahane directs the ball wide of short fine leg for a brace.
India Cricket Team
Australia Cricket Team
Cheteshwar Pujara
Ajinkya Rahane
Melbourne Cricket Ground