BENGALURU: Australia were 40 for no loss from 16 overs in their first innings in reply to India’s 189 all out in the second Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Saturday.
KL Rahul was the star of the day for India with his knock of 90, while off-spinner Nathan Lyon bagged eight wickets for 50 runs for Australia.
With Karun Nair falling for 26 after being removed by Steve O’Keefe, India suddenly looked to be in a spot of bother as the home team was 168 for the loss of five wickets at tea.
After a few wickets that would have made India uncomfortable, it was left to the two Karnataka batsmen to put up a good partnership. They looked pretty comfortable out in the middle.
However, India’s tormentor in the first Test, left arm spinner Steve O’Keefe returned to dismiss Nair and set India thinking. This was from a reasonably comfortable 72 for 2 that India were at lunch.
India chose to bat and two changes were made to the side. Triple centurion Karun Nair was back in the side and so was opener Abhinav Mukund in the place of M Vijay, who had sustained a shoulder injury during the first Test in Pune.
Rahul had posted the highest score for India in the first Test in Pune and his form continued. Being a Karnataka batsman, his vast experience on home ground may have something to do with it as he put together a careful innings. Rahul got a life when he was dropped by Peter Handscomb off left arm spinner Steve O’Keefe on 30. He got another respite, being dropped by David Warner when on 61.
vivekphadnis@newindianexpress.com