Twitter Reactions: Game in the balance as India and Australia strive for ascendancy
India didn't make the best of starts in their first innings.
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A few late wickets on the first day put India in a decent position against Australia at the new Perth Stadium, but the hosts also hit back hard. Their lower order frustrated the Indian bowlers once again and the likes of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood were able to rattle the visitors’ star-studded the batting lineup. In the end, Virat Kohli and Co are still trailing by 160 runs in the first innings.
Aussie pacers dictate terms
Tim Paine and Pat Cummins were the overnight batsmen as the Aussies resumed at 277/6 in 90 overs. The duo carried on and compiled a decent stand of 59 runs from 137 balls. Most importantly, they took their team over the 300-run mark. Cummins valued his wicket and scored a 66-ball 19 before being castled by Umesh Yadav. In the next over, Jasprit Bumrah trapped Paine, who notched 38.
The rest of the batters couldn’t quite come up with much resistance as Australia were shot out for 326. India got off to a shambolic beginning. Mitchell Starc cleaned up Murali Vijay for a duck in his second over to draw first blood. The ball shaped back in and Vijay was left with no answer. After a couple of overs, Josh Hazlewood castled KL Rahul, who could only score a couple from 17 deliveries.
Kohli and Rahane hold on
Following the initial stutter, Cheteshwar Pujara and skipper Virat Kohli put their heads down and staved off the Aussie bowlers without much trouble. A few overs later, there was a massive caught-behind appeal to dismiss Pujara, but the batsman found himself on the right side of luck. Kohli was fluent to start his innings and he smacked Hazlewood for quite a few boundaries, all along the ground.
India went into Tea with the score at 70/2. Unfortunately, after the break, Starc accounted for Pujara’s wicket when the batsman tried to fend one down to fine-leg. The Saurashtra-batsman scored 24 runs off 103 balls. Kohli buckled down to play until the very end and stayed not out on 69 from 167 balls. Ajinkya Rahane, who hasn’t had the best of times recently, also showed intent and racked up a half-century.
Here is how Twitter reacted
He looks in the mood … #Kohli
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) December 15, 2018
That Kohli Cover Drive off Cummins 🙇♂️ #AusvInd #7cricket @7Cricket @1116sen
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 15, 2018
Vijays who should be immediately sent to India. #AusvInd pic.twitter.com/yjiP0ksbiU
— Bollywood Gandu (@BollywoodGandu) December 15, 2018
2015 was the last time when Ajinkya Rahane scored fifty-plus scores consecutive innings in Test cricket. It happened against South Africa at Delhi.#AUSVIND
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) December 15, 2018
Top knock by @ajinkyarahane88. With masterly Kohli as anchor, India’s much-vaunted middle order pulling the team out of trouble and into a position of strength if the current pair remains unseparated till close
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) December 15, 2018
Incredible fightback from India. Both Kohli & Rahane taking the game to Australia and bedding in for the contest. Thoughts on the pitch? #AUSvIND
— Isa Guha (@isaguha) December 15, 2018
Played Jinx. Go on. And on.
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) December 15, 2018
A Great contest btw bat & ball is going on in Perth’s newest Test venue..Indn Capt/v Capt combining well not to make batting look an easy vocation but worth every bit in terms o a ‘fight’ Royale..Fab stuff isolating Test Crkt frm every other gimmick..!!!
— Bishan Bedi (@BishanBedi) December 15, 2018
Don’t sweep, Rahane…resist the temptation #ausvind #7cricket @7Cricket @1116sen
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 15, 2018
Kohli vs Cummins absorbing #ausvind
— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7) December 15, 2018
Indian openers carrying too much baggage of the past. If mind is affected there is not much technical tweaks can do. #AUSvIND
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) December 15, 2018
Virat Kohli… batting like only he can… on this pitch! #AusvInd
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) December 15, 2018
So much negativity on Social Media on India's chances when they started batting. This team is a bit different. Dependency on Pujara, Rahane and Kohli was there but that is how most teams operate. All three have delivered with Kohli leading the way again. #AUSvsIND
— Gaurav Sundararaman (@gaurav_sundar) December 15, 2018
"Shaam tak nahin khelenge toh…" #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/YE2UprD9Ev
— Saurabh Somani (@saurabh_42) December 15, 2018
High praise for the fight that India have shown today after being 2 wickets for 8 runs. @imVkohli unbelievable! @ajinkyarahane88 exceptional! 🏏👏🏻
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) December 15, 2018
Excellent cricket and batsmanship of the highest quality from Kohli and Rahane. Australia never flagged and that added to the intensity
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 15, 2018
Old adage: Don't judge a pitch until both teams have batted.
2018-19 version: Don't judge a pitch until India's openers are dismissed and Kohli has a go at it.
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) December 15, 2018
Great day of test match cricket. Some good battles happening & the test in the balance #AusvsIndia
— Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) December 15, 2018
India played very well today and this game is set up beautifully. Well played both teams, wicket played better today and looking forward to day 3 @MacquarieSport calling the action from 10.20 WST @cricketcomau @Beva3AW
— Darren Lehmann (@darren_lehmann) December 15, 2018
The pitch played a bit better today..
but how good did Rahane and Kohli played!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I hope our batsmen again watch.. no holding out at 3rd man.. no silly ramps to 3rd man. Or late cuts off Lyon. Just good old discipline. #elitehonesty #AUSvIND— Dean Jones (@ProfDeano) December 15, 2018
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