Match Blog: Umesh Yadav’s 4-For Restricts Aus to 256/9 on Day 1
India take on Australia in the first match of a four-Test series.
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- Australia end day one of the first Test at 256/9 against India at Pune.
- Matt Renshaw top-scored for Australia with 68 runs.
- Umesh Yadav was the pick of the bowlers for India with figures of 4/32.
- Mitchell Starc scored his ninth Test fifty in just 47 balls.
Australia End Day One at 256/9
Australia were in deep trouble when they lost their ninth wicket for only 205 runs, but then fast bowler Mitchell Starc came to Australia’s rescue with a quick fifty.
Umesh Yadav was India’s pick of the bowlers. He picked up four wickets for just 32 runs. He will look to take his fifth wicket on day two and help India wrap up Australia’s innings as quickly as possible.
50 off 47 Balls For Starc as Australia Reach 250
Mitchell Starc has brought up his ninth Test fifty in just 47 balls! Starc has looked very good right from the beginning of the innings. He has particularly hammered the spinners and helped Australia reach 250.
Starc has hit five fours and three sixes in his innings so far. These are very valuable runs for Australia.
Australia: 252/9 after 91 overs.
Starc Smacks His Third Six
While the Australian batting order failed miserably, Mitchell Starc has come to their rescue with some big hits!
The paceman has struck a six off Ashwin, Jayant Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja each and has raced to 43 runs off 39 balls.
With two fours and a six, Starc has scored 15 runs off Jadeja in the 88th over.
Australia: 241/9.
Two Wickets in Two Balls
Umesh Yadav is on a roll at the moment! After getting Steve O'Keefe out caught behind, he trapped Nathan Lyon LBW in his first delivery.
Lyon reviewed the decision, but unfortunately, the replays showed that the ball would have hit the stumps.
India are just one wicket away from wrapping up Australia’s first innings.
Saha's Brilliant Catch
Wriddhiman Saha takes a brilliant catch to dismiss Steve O'Keefe off Umesh Yadav’s bowling for a duck! The Australian’s outside edge flew behind and Saha dived on the right and took a typical Adam Gilchrist-type catch.
Australia lose their eight wicket for 205 runs.
Australia Lose Their 7th Wicket!
Matt Renshaw was the only batsman who seemed to have cracked the Indian bowling attack’s plans, but now the premier off-spinner Ashwin has found his edge and the Australian is walking back to the pavilion for a well-made 68.
The Baggy Greens, who got off to a terrific start, are staring down a meagre first innings total.
Australia: 198/7 after 79 overs.
Umesh Yadav Strikes Again!
Every time Australia start to build a partnership, it’s Umesh Yadav, who has got the breakthrough for India.
While Matt Renshaw, who brought up his second Test fifty, was digging deep in the other end, Yadav cramped Matthew Wade for room and trapped him LBW.
Once the umpire gave it out, Wade ask for a review, but unfortunately the replays showed that the ball would have clipped the stumps and therefore Wade was on his way back to the pavilion.
Australia: 190/6 after 76 overs.
Jadeja's Second Wicket
Fifth over after tea and India have picked their fifth wicket. Mitchell Marsh stitched together an 18-ball 4 before Ravindra Jadeja trapped him lbw.
Australia Take Tea at 153/4
India have crawled their way back into the match with two quick wickets. Steve Smith and Peter Handscomb were grinding it out and just started to look comfortable in the middle, before Handscomb got out LBW to Jadeja and soon after, Smith presented a simple catch to Virat Kohli to midwicket off Ashwin’s bowling.
Matt Renshaw, who retired ill due to an upset stomach earlier in the day, has returned to the crease.
The opener and Mitchell Marsh are at the crease for Australia at the moment.
Smith and Handscomb Fall in Quick Succession
Ravindra Jadeja did the trick for India yet again and Ravichandran Ashwin followed it with the wicket of Steve Smith.
Peter Handscomb played for the turn but was trapped LBW for 22 runs because Jadeja bowled the straighter one instead.
And a few deliveries later, Steve Smith clipped Ashwin straight to Virat Kohli, who took a simple catch at midwicket.
Smith went back to a pavilion after a gritty innings of 27 runs off 95 balls.
There was more drama when the umpire gave Mitchell Marsh out caught behind when he didn’t nick the ball off Ashwin’s bowling.
Marsh reviewed the decision and saved his wicket.
Australia: 150/4 after 61 overs.
Jayant Yadav Strikes!
Shaun Marsh is on his way back after playing a gritty innings of 16 runs off 55 balls. He was playing the perfect Test match innings before he tried to sweep Jayant Yadav.
While trying to sweep, the ball hit his pads and then his gloves and thereafter looped for Virat Kohli to take a simple catch.
India Lose Both Their Reviews
The Indian team have used up both their reviews for the first 80 overs of the first innings. Umesh Yadav hit Steve Smith on the pads and the Indians went up straight away.
Umpire Kettleborough ruled it not out, but Virat Kohli wanted to have a look and called for a review. The replays showed that the ball would have gone down the leg-side and the umpire’s decision stayed.
India don’t have any more reviews for 41 more overs.
Australia: 104/1 after 39 overs.
Australia Take Lunch at 84/1
Australia have got off to a terrific start in the first Test! Warner and Renshaw saw off the spinners beautifully and were cruising before Umesh Yadav knocked off David Warner’s stumps just before lunch.
Warner walked back for 38 runs and soon after Matt Renshaw retired ill on the same individual score.
Steve Smith (1*) and Shaun Marsh (1*) are at the crease for Australia at the moment.
Renshaw Retired Ill
Matt Renshaw has decided to leave the field. It looks like he is not feeling well. He has retired ill for 38 runs.
Shaun Marsh walks into the middle.
India suddenly can attack two new batsmen at the crease.
Australia: 82/1 after 28 overs.
Warner Bowled!
India have finally managed to get a breakthrough and it’s Umesh Yadav who has broken David Warner’s defense. It would have been perfect for Australia, if they got to lunch without losing a wicket, but it’s not to be.
Nevertheless, Warner goes for 38 off 77 balls, the Baggy Greens need to capitalise on a fantastic start.
A Little Extra Intel
Former media manager of the Indian Cricket Team Nishant Arora has joined our cricket party at The Quint and in his first Facebook Live yesterday shared a lot of interesting insights into a player’s mind. He played the sport himself as a youngster and has been associated with it for the last 25 years - all of that is now coming to The Quint.
Email us on sports@thequint.com if you have questions for him.
Ishant and Ashwin Start
The two oldest bowlers in the Indian team start the proceedings against Renshaw and Warner. Eight overs down and there are 19 runs on the board.
Australia Win Toss, Elect to Bat
Australian captain Steve Smith won the toss and elected to bat in the first Test match against India.
India have preferred spinner Jayant Yadav over paceman Bhuvneshwar Kumar along with main spinners R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Yadav picked up an injury during the England series and had to sit out of the last Test of the series, followed by the one-off Test against Bangladesh.
Australia have fielded two specialist spinners in Nathan Lyon and left-armer Steve O'Keefe.
Australia have fielded two specialist spinners in Nathon Lyon and left-armer Steve O'Keefe.
Teams:
India: Virat Kohli (C), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma.
Australia: Steven Smith (C), David Warner, Matt Renshaw, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade, Steve O'Keefe, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood
Aus Series Starts in Pune
In the fourth and last home series of the 2016-17 season, India take on Australia in the first match of a four-match rubber in Pune. On a record 19-match unbeaten streak, the hosts would seek to extend their incredible dominance at home.
Virat Kohli has been spearheading India’s stupendous purple patch with his performances. Excellent bowling by spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, also the top two bowlers in the ICC rankings, have also had a major contribution.
Here’s what captains of both teams had to say ahead of the series.
While India haven’t lost a Test since August 2015, Australia have not been able to win a Test on their last three visits to India. In the recent past, the visitors lost the tour of Sri Lanka in July-August 2016, following which they lost to South Africa 1-2 at home. Most recently, Australia whitewashed Pakistan 3-0 and are currently ranked second in the ICC Test rankings.
India coach Anil Kumble however felt that Australia are like any of the other teams his side faced in this home season.
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