The first day of the fourth and final test match played at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad was the best batting pitch so far. After winning the toss, it was a good batting performance as the Australian team ended at 255 for 4 with Usman Khawaja scoring well complied century along with Cameron Green.
India made one change as Mohammed Shami made a comeback into the playing XI replacing Mohammed Siraj. On the other hand, Australia remained unchanged.
Here we look at the top 5 moments of day 1 of the fourth Test match:
- Travis Head and Usman Khawaja providing a decent start.
Australian captain Steve Smith won the toss and decided to bat first. Travis Head and Usman Khawaja looked composed against a wayward new ball spell by Shami and Umesh Yadav. KS Bharat dropped a simple chance to get rid of Travis Head.
Khawaja looked solid with his defensive technique while Head showed intent right from the word go. Ravichandran Ashwin provided the important breakthrough by dismissing Travis Head with a simple catch to Ravindra Jadeja at mid-on. Head and Khawaja added 61 runs for the opening wicket.
- Two quick wickets after the opening of the partnership.
The Indian bowling looked impressive after a wayward first hour. Ravichandran Ashwin provided the first breakthrough dismissing Head providing an easy catch to Ravindra Jadeja at mid-on. Mohammed Shami was bought into the attack and got rid of Marnus Labuschagne taking the inside edge onto the stumps.
Indian bowlers kept tight lines and lengths not allowing Steve Smith and Khawaja to score runs freely on a good batting pitch. Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja kept the pressure on both batters before the lunch break.
It was an even contest as Australia scored 75 for the loss of 2 wickets after Head and Khawaja put on 61 runs for the opening wicket.
- Usman Khawaja’s brilliant century
Usman Khawaja looked in great touch during the first day of the fourth Test match. He played the ball according to the merit of the ball putting the bad deliveries away for boundaries keeping the scoreboard ticking.
Khawaja completed his fifty off 146 deliveries and kept the Indian bowlers at bay. Australia lost two more quick wickets to dismiss Steve Smith and Peter Handscomb in quick succession to them in trouble.
The left-handed Khawaja made the batting look easy and completed century off 246 deliveries. It was a superb knock to show his class remaining not out on 104 off 251 balls with 15 fours. Australia ended the first day at 255 for 4.
- Cameron Green and Khawaja scored quickly with the second new ball.
The Indian captain Rohit Sharma took the new ball in the 81st over. Cameron Green and Usman Khawaja took advantage of boundaries at regular intervals with lovely boundaries making life tough for bowlers.
Green hit some lovely shots against Umesh Yadav struggling for pace. Khawaja also timed the ball brilliantly and made the batting look easy. Cameron Green and Khawaja put on 54 runs in the last 9 overs.
It was a brilliant batting display by Cameron Green and Khawaja to put pressure on Indian bowling. Both of them added so far 85 runs for the 5th wicket.
- Mohammed Shami impressive bowler
Mohammed Shami was the most impressive bowler for India on the first day. He was not penetrative on the first new ball being wayward against Travis Head and Khawaja.
Shami made an impression coming back into the second spell with a big wicket of Marnus Labuschagne. He bowled with decent lines and lengths troubling the Australian batters.
The pace bowler produced a stunning delivery to dismiss Peter Handscomb. He looked impressive against Cameron Green but could not provide the much-needed breakthrough. Shami ended with figures of 2 for 65 in 17 overs.
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