OUT! Pat Cummins strikes with the second new ball to remove R Ashwin. The long partnership is finally broken by the Australia skipper himself. Matt Renshaw at square leg dives towards his right to take the catch. Ashwin c Renshaw b Cummins 37
India 232/7 after 78 overs
Nathan Lyon continues. Tidy over, with just one run off Axar Patel coming in it. The partnership between Axar and Ashwin is now 93 runs.
India 232/7 after 78 overs
Nathan Lyon continues. Tidy over, with just one run off Axar Patel coming in it. The partnership between Axar and Ashwin is now 93 runs.
India 231/7 after 77 overs
Cummins continues. An appeal for a catch against Ashwin. Ashwin had gone for a pull shot against a short ball, and the ball travelled through to Smith at slip. But it was neither from bat nor glove, and instead it was from Ashwin’s shoulder. An eventful maiden over.
FIFTY! What a fine half-century from Axar Patel, a timely fifty that comes at a very crucial time for Team India.
India 218/7 after 73 overs
Travis Head continues, with Axar Patel facing him. Axar and Ashwin keep the scoreboard ticking. Good over for India with eight runs coming off it, including a boundary off Axar in the last ball of the over.
India 208/7 after 71 overs
Travis Head introduced to the attack for the first time today. He goes for just a couple of runs in the over, with both Ashwin and Axar collecting a single each.
India 197/7 after 67 overs
Axar Patel is into his 30s now, and his partnership with Ashwin will be crucial in India’s bid to gain lead today. It’s been some disciplined bowling from Australia so far, but Axar and Ashwin are taking the cautious approach. Four runs off Murphy’s latest over.
India 179/7 after 62 overs
Matthew Kuhnemann has a chat with skipper Cummins before the over, and it is the last over before tea on Day 2. Axar hits Kuhnemann for a four off the third ball of the over, playing it through the cover region. And tea it is, indeed. India are 179/7, trailing Australia by 84 runs. Ashwin (11*) and Axar (28*) are unbeaten, having forged a 40-run stand so far. We will be back shortly for the third and final session of the day.
India 170/7 after 60 overs
Matt Kuhnemann is into the attack. Axar Patel collects a boundary off the first ball of the over, and follows it up with a six, launching it over deep midwicket. A good counter-attack and aggression from Axar Patel, as India desperately look for a lead in this pressure situation. India trail by 93 runs.