Sydney Test Day 2:
Australia 338 , India 96/2
Ravindra Jadeja - 4 wickets and run out
New opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill were playing with quite ease, positively. Put on 70 runs for the first wicket. Just when Rohit Sharma was appearing as set for a big one, hardly looking rusty due to long absence. Hazelwood got him with a simple return catch, on 26.70/1.Quite a soft dismissal. Shubham Gill kept impressing one and all. Completed brilliant 50 and nicked one to gully immediately after that. 85/2.With openers back , India still 242 runs behind. Australia's 1st innings total of 338 , at stumps on day 2.With test specialists Pujara and Rahane at the crease.India expecting at least one of them , to play a big innings to cross Aussie total and try to get ahead with some lead.
Earlier as feared Smith played a brilliant innings of 131, getting out last.But it was Jadeja's all round brilliance that kept host from getting big total in the region of 350-400.First he removed overnight not out Labuschagne at 91, through Rahane's brilliant slip catch. After exactly one more century partnership.206/3.Then got Wade skying to mid on.238/4. Bumrah then struck 2 major blows in the form of Green and Tim Paine, with second new ball.255/6.Jadeja again struck 278/7.Centurion Smith added invaluable 60 more runs to the total, with last 3 wickets.Saini removed Starc after attacking 24 - 310/8.Jadeja then trapped Lyon.315/9.Smith was playing very aggressively and scoring freely.That is when Ravindra Jadeja showed why he is rated as one of best fielder in world cricket.Smith tapped one to backward square leg,wanting desperately two to keep strike.But Jadeja came running like a Cheetah for more than 10/15 meters.In just one action, picked up and threw at the base of the stumps , while still in motion , making diving Smith short by a feet or two.It was such brilliant piece of fielding. Outstanding.Jadeja ended with 4 wickets. Bumrah and Siraj with 2 each.
Now its upto Rahane, Pujara, Pant and Jadeja to make the most of, still quite batsman friendly pitch on the 3rd day.
Steve Smith 131 - 8th Century against India
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill put on 70
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