Mohammed Shami befuddles Tim Paine with a vicious bouncer

India made a tremendous comeback in the second Test match against Australia in Perth after lunch on Day 4, thanks to Mohammed Shami, who bowled a spirited spell. The hosts, who took a lead of 43 runs in the first innings, were comfortably placed at 192 for 4 at the break with Usman Khawaja and captain Time Paine carrying on with their previous day’s partnership. They added 70 runs after Australia’s top order saw a mini collapse and were looking strong to corner the visitors more in their quest to level the series.

However, Shami, who went wicketless in the first innings, had other plans. The 28-year-old bowler, who came one-change in the second innings, gave three crucial blows to the Australia right after the break, picking up Paine (37) and Aaron Finch (25), who withdrew on Day 3 after receiving a blow on his fingers and came to bat after Paine’s fall, in successive deliveries.

Soon after, half-centurion Usman Khawaja, the only for Australia in the second innings, also fell to the fast bowler and the Baggy Greens were reduced to 198 for 7. Shami took his sixth in the form of Nathan Lyon who was caught by Hanuma Vihari at deep point and it was his first six-for (6 for 56) in the longest format. Australia were all out for 243 in their second innings and India were left to chase 287 for a win.

Mohammed Shami bowls a beauty 

However, of all the dismissals, perhaps no other had as much excitement as that of Paine with whom Kohli was waging a psychological warfare since Day 3. Shami bowled a vicious short ball to the wicket-keeper-batsman and Paine could not get out of the way of the bouncing delivery and it touched his gloves and Kohli was eagerly waiting in the slips to catch the ball. A lot of talking took place in the middle following this dismissal.

Earlier in the day, Kohli was seen standing on the way of Paine when the latter was attempting a run. Though there was visibly no exchange of barbs on that occasion, one could feel that the heat was being felt. Shami’s six-fer reminded one of Ajit Agarkar’s similar performance in Adelaide in 2003 when he took 6 for 41 to trigger an Aussie collapse in the second innings and India eventually won that game by 4 wickets.

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