Australia's Peter Handscomb appeals for the wicket of India's Ravindra Jadeja
©Reuters
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India vs Australia, 2nd Test Day 2: India’s Axar Patel hits 74 to close gap with Australia
India's Axar Patel hammered a counter-attacking 74 before Australia bowled out the hosts for 262 with Nathan Lyon returning figures of 5-67 on an intense day two of the second Test. Australia closed the day on 61/1 with a lead of 62 runs.
Match Summary
India vs Australia, 2nd Test, Australia tour of India
India 262/10 (83.3 ov)
Australia 263/10 (78.4 ov) & *61/1 (12 ov)
Day Break : Day 2 Australia lead by 62 runs
Travis Head's counter-attack gives Australia the momentum at stumps ??#WTC23 | #INDvAUS | ??: https://t.co/HS93GIyEwS pic.twitter.com/xBk322Sdtf
— ICC (@ICC) February 18, 2023
Match Day Analysis
India's Axar Patel hammered a counter-attacking 74 before Australia bowled out the hosts for 262 with Nathan Lyon returning figures of 5-67 on an intense day two of the second Test. Australia closed the day on 61/1 with a lead of 62 runs.
The hosts conceded a lead of one run but a key eighth-wicket partnership between Axar and Ravichandran Ashwin (37) closed the gap on Australia's first innings total after they slipped to 139-7 in New Delhi.
Skipper Pat Cummins finally broke the stand with the second new ball as the fast bowler got Ashwin caught with Matt Renshaw, a concussion substitute for David Warner, taking a good catch at square leg.
Cummins took a stunner at mid on to end Axar's brave knock off Todd Murphy and fellow spinner Matthew Kuhnemann ended the Indian innings in the final session.
Lyon led Australia's charge with four wickets to rattle India in the morning and then claimed his 22nd Test five-for in an afternoon session that saw a controversial dismissal of Virat Kohli.
Kohli was given out lbw by the umpire off debutant Kuhnemann and a review left it too close to call on replays whether the ball hit the bat or pad first, before tracking suggested a strike on leg stump.
Third umpire Richard Illingworth upheld the on-field decision, much to the surprise of Kohli, who went back dejected and was seen animated while watching replays in the pavilion.
Kohli had resisted the Australian spinners until his departure and put on a key fifth-wicket stand with Ravindra Jadeja, who fell to Murphy for 26.
But new man Axar seemed unfazed by the decision and India's dire position as he took stock and then hit back with a four and six off Kuhnemann.
He kept up the attack after tea and reached his second successive Test half-century, ably supported by Ashwin playing anchor.
The tourists overcame an early blow when a concussion ruled opener Warner out of the match following a hit on the head in his day one knock of 15.
Australia, who lost the opener of the four-match series, were bowled out for 263 after electing to bat first.
Match Stats
Australia 1st Innings Fall of wickets: 1-50 (David Warner - 15.2 ov), 2-91 (Marnus Labuschagne - 22.4 ov), 3-91 (Steven Smith - 22.6 ov), 4-108 (Travis Head - 31.2 ov), 5-167 (Usman Khawaja - 45.5 ov), 6-168 (Alex Carey - 46.6 ov), 7-227 (Pat Cummins - 67.2 ov), 8-227 (Todd Murphy - 67.6 ov), 9-246 (Nathan Lyon - 74.2 ov), 10-263 (Matthew Kuhnemann - 78.4 ov)
India 1st Innings Fall of wickets: 1-46 (KL Rahul - 17.1 ov), 2-53 (Rohit Sharma - 19.2 ov), 3-54 (Cheteshwar Pujara - 19.4 ov), 4-66 (Shreyas Iyer - 25.2 ov), 5-125 (Ravindra Jadeja - 46.5 ov), 6-135 (Virat Kohli - 49.3 ov), 7-139 (Kona Srikar Bharat - 50.5 ov), 8-253 (Ravichandran Ashwin - 80.2 ov), 9-259 (Axar Patel - 81.6 ov), 10-262 (Mohammed Shami - 83.3 ov)
Australia 2nd Innings Fall of wickets: 1-23 (Usman Khawaja - 5.5 ov)
Playing XIs
India: Rohit Sharma (captain), KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Kona Srikar Bharat (wicket-keeper), Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj
Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Peter Handscomb, Alex Carey (wicket-keeper), Pat Cummins (captain), Todd Murphy, Nathan Lyon, Matthew Kuhnemann
Match Details
Toss: Australia, elected to bat
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Start time: 0400 hrs GMT
Match officials: Michael Gough, Nitin Menon (On-field Umpires); Richard Illingworth (TV Umpire); Anil Chaudhary (Reserve Umpire); Andy Pycroft (Match-referee)
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