LIVE SCORECARD
Nathan Lyon to Karun Nair, OUT! Nair's bad form continues and suddenly Australia are on top. The ball pitches on off stump and bounces off geed length. Nair fails to cope with the bounce and ends up gloving it to forward short leg.
Nathan Lyon to Cheteshwar Pujara, OUT! Huge wicket for the Australians and a brilliant start to the session. Lyon tosses this outside off, Che goes forward to defend but the ball hits the glove, kisses the pads and lobs towards Handscomb at short leg, who takes a one handed catch to his left. Lyon appeals and the finger goes up. Pujara knows he nicked it and starts walking. India will again have to be patient now and build another partnership.
DAY 2 SESSION 3
Yet another fighting session of Test cricket! India began well with KL Rahul playing his shots getting to his fifty. It was the spell from Pat Cummins that went in favour of the visitors. KL Rahul lost his head and threw his wicket away. Rahane too started very nervously but has settled down. Australians have not given away easy runs and will be hoping to do more of the same and take a few more wickets. The deficit is 147 runs for the hosts and will want to eat into it as much as possible before the second new ball. It promises to be another grind, join us in a while for it.
India 153/2 (Pujara 53*, Rahane 19*) at Tea on Day 2. Trail Australia by 147 runs
Steve O'Keefe to Ajinkya Rahane, FOUR! Outstanding timing. Tosses this around off, Rahane kneels and sweeps it towards mid-wicket for a boundary. Superb stroke.
India 135/2. Pujara 42, Rahane 13
What an eventful over. The wicket of Rahul then followed by a boundary and a six.
Pat Cummins to Ajinkya Rahane, SIX! Top edged! Shorter in length outside off, Rahane goes for the pull once again. The ball lobs off the top edge and flies over the head of the keeper for a maximum. Crazy period of play!
Pat Cummins to Ajinkya Rahane, Shorter in length just around off, Rahane shapes to upper cut it but misses. There is a fine third man in place and that was a silly shot to play.
India 108/2. Pujara 29, Rahane o
Captain Rahane walks in with a huge responsibility on his shoulder
Pat Cummins to Lokesh Rahul, OUT! Cummins has the last laugh! Shorter in length outside off, Rahul looks to pull it but is no position whatsoever. The ball goes off the toe end and lobs towards David Warner at mid off who takes it easily. The words have done the damage and Australia get a breakthrough. Rahul has once again, thrown away a start. The deficit for India is still 192 runs.
Steve O'Keefe to Lokesh Rahul, Well played, KL Rahul! Lands it on the stumps, Rahul comes down and heaves it through mid-wicket for a boundary. Brings up his fifty but he will know he has to carry on and not spoil the good work.
Josh Hazlewood to Lokesh Rahul, FOUR! Risky! Slants it outside off, Rahul arches back and looks to leave at first but then at the last moment, rams it over the gully fielder for a boundary.
India 84/1. Rahul 46, Pujara 23
Steve O'Keefe to Lokesh Rahul, SIX! Now that is a sign of intent! Floats it outside off, Rahul gets down on his knee and slog sweeps it over mid-wicket for a maximum. Superb shot, that. There was a brief chat between the two batsmen, might as well have been about scoring some runs against the spinners.
The players are back out in the middle. Cheteshwar Pujara and KL Rahul are out to bat. A lot depends on them for the hosts. Australia will aim to strike early and keep the runs down again. The visitors begin with Josh Hazlewood. Two slips in place for him. Here we go...
DAY 2 SESSION 2
An intriguing session of Test cricket! The Australian bowlers kept things right and will be satisfied with the wicket of Murali Vijay. India, on the other hand, will be happy with the way they have countered the swinging ball and will aim to get going post lunch. The pitch has played better and the hosts will want it to play same as they look to bat deep. The deficit for them is still 236 runs and Australia will fancy their chances if they keep taking wickets at regular intervals. Join us in a while for the second session of play.
India 64/1 (Rahul 31) at lunch on Day 2. Trail Australia by 236 runs
India 46/1. Rahul 25, Pujara 10
Pat Cummins to Lokesh Rahul, FOUR! Dropped! Fuller length outside off, Rahul looks to defend it but gets an outside edge. Matt Renshaw at first slip cannot hold it and the ball flies through to the third man fence. That flew before Renshaw knew anything about it.
Josh Hazlewood to Murali Vijay, OUT! Hazlewood wins the battle! Angles it on a good length outside off, Vijay pokes at it and gets an outside edge which flies through to Wade who accepts the catch. Hazlewood is delighted and has a word, Vijay responds too but he can't do much now that he is out. His poor run of form continues, despite the 82 in the previous game.
India 17/0. Rahul 10, Vijay 7
Nathan Lyon to Lokesh Rahul, FOUR! Welcome to the attack, Mr. Lyon! Nathan floats it outside off, Rahul gets on top of it and unfurls a cover drive through covers for a boundary.
Josh Hazlewood to Murali Vijay, PEACH! Bowls it fuller outside off, Vijay looks to clip it through the mid-wicket region but loses balance. The ball comes in, in the air but pitches and holds its line and just whizzes past the off stump. Vijay was opened up completely there. Lucky to be out there!
A testing over from Cummins but equally well handled by KL Rahul. Early signs of an intriguing session.
India 9/0. Rahul 4, Vijay 5
SHOT! a copybook cover drive from Vijay. Foot tot the pitch of the ball, head falling in perfect line and smooth extension of the arms. First boundary for Vijay and also for India.
India 0/0. Rahul 0, Rahul 0
Players make their way out into the centre. Vijay will be on strike. Both openers yet to open their account.
Pitch Report - Sunil Gavaskar informs that it's been a very good pitch to bat on. Talks about a spot (on good length) which is a little different (has cracks), shows the areas from where Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeeep Yadav extracted turn. Says that it will turn today also and as the match progresses. Opines that it is vital for India to get through the morning session as the new ball will do something.
Hello everyone and welcome to the coverage of Day 2 of the fourth and final Test between India and Australia in Dharamsala. The hosts will be delighted with the work done yesterday, bowling out the visitors for 300. They will aim to bat long and look to get to parity first and then see how it goes. Australia will look to strike early and put pressure on the Indians. Promises to be an exciting day of cricket. Stay tuned for all the action.
DAY 2 SESSION 1