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Australia vs India, 2nd Test: Rahane's ton, Jadeja’s 40* put India in command on Day 2

27th Dec, 2020

Ajinkya Rahane led from the front and remained unbeaten on 104 as India ended Day 2 of the second Test at 277/5, leading Australia by 82 runs, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.

While Rahane notched up his 12th Test ton, Ravindra Jadeja scored an important 40* as the duo’s unbroken 104-run stand took India closer to 280 before the rain led to an early end of the day’s play in Melbourne.

Earlier, after India resumed the day’s play at 36/1, Australian bowlers kept the things tight and tested India’s overnight batsmen – Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara. While Pujara survived an early DRS call, Gill got a reprieve before the two completed a fifty-run stand.

However, they got out in quick succession as Pat Cummins struck. While Gill got out after scoring 45, Tim Paine took a stunning one-handed catch to dismiss Pujara.

Rahane, who had walked out to bat after the fall of Gill, and Hanuma Vihari then added 26 runs to take India to 90/3 at lunch.

The pair continued to do a rebuilding job and completed a fifty-run stand to push India past 110. However, Nathan Lyon broke the partnership after Hanuma Vihari got out for 21.

Rishabh Pant joined Rahane in the middle with India still trailing Australia by 79. The young wicketkeeper-batsman played his strokes, helping India to up their scoring rate. The duo of Pant and Rahane added 57 runs before Mitchell Starc dismissed the left-hander for 29.

Meanwhile, Rahane completed a well-compiled half-century as India moved to 189/5 before tea, scoring 99 runs in the second session.

India moved past Australia’s first innings score soon after the resumption of the final session. The Rahane-Jadeja combo completed a 50-run stand in the 75th over as India moved past 220.

Australia took the new ball as soon as it was made available and had a chance to get Rahane out. But Steve Smith could not hold on to an opportunity as the Indian skipper got a life on 73. Rahane then creamed two fours in the next two overs to take India past 250.

Five overs later, Rahane played a cracking cut to bring up a fine hundred – his second Test at the MCG. In the 89th over, the duo of Rahane and Jadeja completed a valuable century partnership before the former got another reprieve on what turned out to be the final ball of the day.

Brief Scores: India 277/5 (Ajinkya Rahane 104*, Shubman Gill 45; Mitchell Starc 2/61, Pat Cummins 2/71) lead Australia 195 all out (Marnus Labuschagne 48, Travis Head 38; Jasprit Bumrah 4/56, R Ashwin 3/35) by 82 runs