IND vs AUS 2nd Test, Day 2 Stumps: Kohli, Rahane fifties keep India alive in the fight

The Kohli-Rahane duo has stitched a 90-run partnership so far which is also the highest partnership for India in this tour so far. The visitors are still trailing by 154 runs

Indian skipper Virat Kohli’s first fifty in this series followed by a couple of healthy partnerships with Cheteshwar Pujara and his deputy, Ajinkya Rahane, kept them alive on the second day of the Perth Test. After bowling out the Aussies for 326 in the morning session, India amassed 172 runs on the board at a loss of three wickets and were trailing by 154 runs. At stumps, Kohli was batting on 82 while Rahane remained unbeaten on 51.

The last session witnessed some impressive and stoical batting performances from the three stalwarts. Captain Kohli and Puajara continued the fight which began after the fall of the Indian openers. Resuming the innings at 70/2 after the tea break, the duo continued troubling the Aussie bowling unit which was delighted at the beginning of the Indian innings.

This pair batted for almost 33 overs and stitched a partnership of 74 runs before Starc bowled a short of length delivery down the leg-side which took the edge of Pujara’s willow, ending his 24-run stint at the crease.

This was just the beginning of another Indian giant partnership where Pujara was replaced by the Indian vice-captain, Ajinkya Rahane. Unlike his usual style of batting, Rahane smashed a couple boundaries at the beginning of his innings which indeed gave much confidence and Support to Kohli who was already anchoring the battle against the Aussie attack.

Meanwhile, the Indian skipper brought up his first fifty of this tour. Kohli faced 109 deliveries to get his 20^th Test fifty which turned out to be a blessing for India after the way they began batting on the Perth track.

Pujara’s dismissal didn’t alter the situations much as the Indian skipper and his deputy kept on frustrating the opposition with their compassion.

In the 66^th over, Rahane scored the 17^th fifty of his Test career off 92 deliveries which was also his 2^nd in the ongoing tour. 

The Kohli-Rahane duo has stitched a 90-run partnership so far which is also the highest partnership for India in this tour so far. The visitors are still trailing by 154 runs.

India were in a spot of bother at 70/2 at tea in their first innings on the second day of the second cricket Test against Australia here on Saturday.

Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara were at the crease when the players went for the break. Kohli was on 37 off 78 deliveries while Pujara was batting on a patient 23 off 87 balls. The duo had added 62 runs between them following the fall of opener Lokesh Rahul shortly after lunch.

In the morning session, India had dismissed Australia for 326 runs in the first innings.

Resuming the overnight score of 277/6, Tim Paine and Pat Cummings held the Indian bowlers at bay for a while before both the players departed in consecutive overs.

Ishant was the most successful of the Indian bowlers with figures of 4/41 while fellow fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami clinched a couple of wickets each. Part-time spinner Hanuma Vihari also got two wickets.