Indore: Australia dominated the first day of the third test match against India with Peter Handscomb on seven runs while Cameron Green on six runs, with a lead of 47 runs.
India won the toss and elected to bat in the game. Australian spin attack dominated the day’s play as hosts fell prey to the plans.
India was off to a quick start with the openers finding boundaries regularly, racing to 26/0 at the end of five overs. The Aussie pacers sprayed the new ball all over the place to help the batters get easy boundaries.
However, the game changed after skipper Steve Smith introduced spin into the attack. Matthew Kuhnemann drew first blood for the visitors, dismissing in-form Rohit Sharma in his first over.
India lost Gill in the left-arm spinner’s next over, reducing the hosts to 34/2. The spinner was on song, bowling beautifully on a pitch that offered turn and bounce. The right-hander looked in good touch but a delivery found the outside edge of his bat while he was prodding forward in defence.
The hosts were banking on Cheteshwar Pujara to steady the innings, but he was dismissed by Nathan Lyon after the ball turned square to disturb the stumps. Pujara had to walk back for 1(4).
India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was promoted to bat up the order. However, he could not make the most of the opportunity. He was adjudged leg-before wicket but reviewed the decision to survive a close call against Lyon but played a loose shot to gift his wicket on the very next ball.
Shreyas Iyer dragged the ball onto his stumps in the next over to be dismissed for a duck off Kuhnemann, leaving India struggling at 45/5.
The hosts were looking down the barrel but the fifth wicket stand between Virat Kohli and Srikar Bharat revived India’s hopes of getting to a respectable total.
However, the partnership was cut short by Murphy who found Virat plumb in front of the stumps, dismissing him for 22(52).
Bharat, who looked in good nick lost his wicket just before lunch to Lyon, leaving India tottering at 82/7.
India was bowled out by the Aussies at the low-score of 109 runs on board. Australian batting took charge of the innings with Usman Khwaja and Marnus Labuschagne playing crucial knocks for their sides.
Khwaja scored 60 runs and was dismissed by Jadeja. Marnus again fell prey to Jadeja who secured his wicket.
Ravindra Jadeja continues his top-form since the comeback as he picked four wickets in his spell on first day. At the stumps, Australia are 156/4 with a lead of 47 runs over the hosts.
(With Agency Inputs)
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