Australia vs India 2018: 1st Test Match, Adelaide: Lunch Report

India has strengthened their lead in the ongoing first Test match against Australia as they added 109  runs in the opening session of Day Four. Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara kept the Australian bowlers at bay as the hosts kept searching for their first wicket of the day. In fact, Australia’s captain Tim Paine adopted a peculiar strategy as he started the proceedings with Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.

Nathan Lyon, who is a major threat to the Indian team on this unlike Australian pitch, was expected to be the first bowler of the day. However, it wasn’t to be the case as Rahane and Pujara got to face four overs from the fast bowlers’ to settle their eye in.

India is in a dominating position.

Pujara continued his first innings form as the right-hander scored his 20th fifty in the multi-day format. Thus, Pujara has been the difference between the two sides.

Meanwhile, Ajinkya Rahane took a leaf out of Pujara’s book as he made good use of his feet. India’s deputy shimmied down the track to tackle the spin of Nathan Lyon. He also drove the off-spinner straight down the wicket for a couple of threes. Furthermore, Rahane blasted a good length delivery from Pat Cummins, which was the shot of the opening session on the penultimate day.

Thus, India was able to tick the right boxes and have their noses in front. On the other hand, Australian bowlers looked pale as they didn’t execute their plans to perfection. Furthermore, the hosts also lacked the energy in their efforts.

Meanwhile, Cheteshwar Pujara was troubled a bit by his hamstring issue. However, India’s number three kept fighting it out as there is no word like ‘Give-Up’ in his dictionary. On the other hand, Ajinkya Rahane also brought his 16th fifty to strike back in form.

Subsequently, Nathan Lyon bowled a fine over to trouble Pujara as he asked the right questions. Lyon was finally rewarded for his consistency as he was able to get Pujara’s glove which lofted to short leg, Aaron Finch. Furthermore, Lyon got the better off Rohit Sharma when Peter Handscomb took a fine catch at silly point.

Brief Scores: India: 260-5, Cheteshwar Pujara: 71.