4th Test: Play Called Off Due to Rain, India Finish Day 2 at 62/2

Paine completed his half century but could not kick on and was the first wicket to fall in the morning.

Cheteshwar Pujara scored 77 during the second innings of the Sydney Test. 

Image: PTI 

India lost both their openers early as they went to tea at 62 for the loss of two wickets on the second day of the fourth and final Test at the Gabba against Australia on Saturday. The players could not take the field after that as heavy rain forced umpires to call off play early.

Earlier in the day, India stormed back into the contest in the morning session of the second day when Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar shared four wickets between themselves. T Natarajan picked up the fifth wicket in the morning session to help clean up the Australian tail and bowl them out for 369.

After lunch, India’s Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill needed to see off the new ball, which they did in Sydney in elegant fashion, but the youngster was the first to fall when Pat Cummins struck with his second delivery. Australia got the early wicket they wanted as India were 11/1 with Cheteshwar Pujara having walked in.

The duo have been patient and have taken India to the 50-run mark in the post-lunch session. However, Rohit Sharma could not play the long innings as was required and was dismissed for 44 by Nathan Lyon. The opener was looking for the big shot over midwicket and was caught by Mitchell Starc in the deep with the score at 60.

A few overs later, Tea was taken with Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara in the middle for India, with the score reading 62/2.

The rookie Indian bowlers Natarjan, Thakur and Sundar all picked three wickets each while Mohammed Siraj finished with one scalp. Australia’s last five wickets gave them 156 runs in total.

Overnight batsmen Tim Paine and Cameron Green were looking to score quickly and started off well too. The Australian skipper completed his half century but could not kick on and was the first to fall in the morning when edged it to Rohit Sharma off Thakur.

Off the next over, Sundar managed to deceive Green (47) and disturb the woodwork, to leave the hosts at 313/7.

Shortly Pacer Pat Cummins was trapped LBW by Thakur for 2 and India were looking at the countering the tail.

Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc however kept the visitors at bay with a few stylish hits as the Lunch break approached on Day 2.

Lyon, who is playing his 100th Test match, scored 23 and hit a few couple of elegant shots before being cleaned up by Sundar while trying to sweep one. Australia were 354/9 after his dismissal.

After the 39-run 9th wicket stand, Starc paired with Josh Hazlewood and added another 15 runs before Arjinkya Rahane turned to Natarajan, who cleaned up the number 11 without much ado on the stroke of lunch.

Australia, who would have been looking to build on the start from the opening day, added 95 runs in the morning session for the loss for 5 wickets. Interestingly, Australia have never lost a Test at the Gabba after scoring 350 in the first innings.

Earlier on Day 1, Australia had finished with 274/5 with the visitors being dealt the body blow of an injury to fast bowler Navdeep Saini, who did not take the field on the second morning. Australia had won the toss and opted to bat first.