Twitter Reactions: Australia helplessly rummage for an escape route

After the second day, the opening Test at Adelaide Oval between Australia and India was even-steven. The hosts had Travis Head in the middle, but Virat Kohli and Co had a cushion of 59 runs with only three of their opponent’s wicket to pick. By the close of play on the third day, India have their nose ahead as they lead by 166 runs with seven second-innings wickets remaining.

A stop-start pre-lunch session

The conditions were overcast and only 10.4 overs were possible in the first session owing to persistent rain. However, that much time was enough for India to bowl Australia out. Head and Mitchell Starc were the overnight batsmen. Jasprit Bumrah nipped out Bumrah to pick up the day’s first wicket. Thereafter, Head and Lyon carried on and put on 31 runs for the ninth wicket.

Lyon was the aggressor in the stand as he scored 24 from 28 balls. Unfortunately, Mohammed Shami found Head’s outside edge to dismiss him for 72. In the very next ball, the Bengal speedster accounted for Josh Hazlewood’s wicket with a similar delivery. The last dismissal also meant that India were able to notch a small, yet priceless lead of 15 runs ahead of the second innings.

India fairly comfortable  

The Indian openers- Murali Vijay and KL Rahul– didn’t do well the first time around and they started cautiously. But Rahul gradually pressed the accelerator and scored 44 runs from 67 balls with three boundaries and one superlative six off Pat Cummins over the cover region. To the hosts’ relief, Starc drew first blood and got rid of Vijay, who managed 18 runs from 53 balls.

To multiply, the Aussies’ joy, Hazlewood removed Rahul as well. From a position of strength, India had two new men- Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli- in the middle. Pujara was given out once off Lyon, but he used the DRS to good effect. Lyon picked up the prized wicket of Kohli for 34 runs. Pujara remained not out on 40 with Ajinkya Rahane, at the other end, batting on one from 15 balls.

Here is how Twitter reacted to India’s dominant show

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