The second day of the fourth Test match was an interesting affair as Australia were bowled out for 480 runs thanks to Cameron Green’s maiden century and Usman Khawaja’s brilliant 180 played in Ahmedabad on 10 March 2023. It was a superb pitch to bat on with nothing for the bowlers.
R Ashwin looked apart with disciplined lines and lengths not allowing the Australian batters to score runs easily. It was a brilliant bowling effort by Indian bowlers after a long partnership between Green and Khawaja to bowl the visitors out.
Here we look at the top 5 moments of day 2 of the fourth Test match:
- Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green dominated in the first session
Starting on the overnight score of 255 for 4, Cameron Green showed intent right from the word go completing his half-century off 67 deliveries. Khawaja looked composed with his defence keeping the momentum going for Australia. Both Australian batters kept the scoreboard ticking not allowing the Indian bowlers to settle.
It was a superb session for the Australian team as Green timed the ball brilliantly keeping the scoreboard ticking. Khawaja showed his class and made batting look easy on a placid batting pitch making life tough for Indian bowlers. Australia went into the lunch break with 347 for 4.
Green looked in sublime touch with some brilliant shots against the pacers as well as spinners while Khawaja kept his composure taking singles and hitting occasional boundaries.
- Ravichandran Ashwin 3 wickets in 2nd session
The Indian bowlers looked out of the sort in the first session as Cameron Green and Khawaja kept the scoreboard ticking.
Cameron Green and Khawaja looked in solid touch during the 2nd session before R Ashwin struck to break the partnership dismissing Cameron Green down leg with a good catch by KS Bharat. Green and Khawaja added 208 runs for the 5th wicket.
Ashwin struck one more time dismissing Alex Carey with a simple catch to Axar Patel. He then produced another lovely delivery to get rid of Mitchell Starc as Shreyas Iyer took sharp catch at short leg.
It was a superb effort by the veteran off-spinner on a flat pitch that had nothing for the bowlers. It bought back India into the game after a superb effort by Green and Khawaja.
- Todd Murphy and Nathan Lyon added 70 runs for 9th
It was a perfect start for Team India in the 3rd session as Axar Patel got rid of Khawaja for 180 via DRS. Todd Murphy and Nathan Lyon showed intent with some lovely shots showing intent against the Indian bowlers.
Murphy hit the loose deliveries away for boundaries and kept the scoreboard ticking. Rohit Sharma took the third new ball as Murphy looked impressive with shots. R Ashwin eventually struck to dismiss Murphy to end 70 runs valuable partnership. Murphy made 41 along with Nathan Lyon helping Australia post 480.
- R Ashwin’s 32nd five-wicket haul
The veteran off-spinner produced a magical spell on a brilliant pitch with Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green looking impressive in the first session. He did the magic for India in the 2nd session getting wickets of Green, Alex Carey, and Mitchell Starc in quick succession bringing back hosts into the game.
Ashwin was superb with his control grabbing the wickets of Todd Murphy and then Nathan Lyon to finish with figures of 6 for 91 in 47.2 overs. He went past Anil Kumble’s record of picking the most five-wicket hauls in Test matches on Indian soil.
He was superb yesterday also picking the breakthrough dismissing Travis Head. It was a disciplined bowling effort by Ashwin who toiled hard for his wickets.
- Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma looking solid.
The Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill looked impressive with their defensive technique. They did not hesitate for playing big shots keeping pressure on Australian bowlers.
Gill showed his intent with lovely shots while Rohit Sharma looked impressive keeping the scoreboard ticking. Gill came down the track hitting a straight six to momentum going for the Indian team.
Gill and Rohit Sharma ensured that they end the 2nd day on a positive note at 36 for 0. The Indian batting unit would be hoping to post a big total and put pressure.
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