India Vs Australia, 1st Test: Rohit Sharma Century, Todd Murphy Fifer Top Off Day 2

While Rohit scored 120 and Murphy registered figures of 5/68, Jadeja and Axar exhausted the opposition bowlers, scoring 66* and 52*, respectively. India lead by 144 runs.

Outlook Web Desk

Updated on: 10 February 2023 11:31 am

Rohit Sharma celebrates after reaching his hundred on Day 2 of the 1st Test on Friday.

After India captain Rohit Sharma had coolly scored a calculated half-century on Day 1, he was intent on continuing from where he left off, and did just that, scoring 120, on Day 2. (More Cricket News)

Australia, in a spot of bother, looked for answers, which came in the form of off-spinner Todd Murphy, who had already removed KL Rahul (20). Murphy added Ravichandran Ashwin (23), Cheteshwar Pujara (7), Virat Kohli (12) and Srikar Bharat (8) to his tally rounding up five wickets on debut.

Ashwin, who had come out to bat as the nightwatchman, departed after having his LBW appeal reviewed by the Aussies. Pujara soon departed after a failed paddle sweep shot hit the top of the bat only to be caught by Scott Boland at short fine leg off Murphy.

Post-lunch, Murphy stuck again, this time getting the prized scalp of Kohli, who looked to flick one of the loose deliveries, only managing a thin nick outside the leg stump to wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

India's Test debutants Suryakumar Yadav and Srikar Bharat soon perished to Nathan Lyon and Murphy, handing the latter his fifth wicket.

With just a lead of 63 after losing seven wickets, the home side needed a partnership to steady the ship. It happened as Ravindra Jadeja scored a crucial half-century, adding to his good performance with the ball. Axar Patel was good support initially, but turned it up a notch scoring a half-century of his own, his second in Tests.

India finished Day 2 at 321-7 with Jadeja and Axar registering an 81-run partnership and a lead of 144 runs.