India vs Australia: Steve O'Keefe's 6/35 wraps hosts for 105 runs

Shobhit Kalra
Published on: 24 Feb 2017 9:00 AM GMT
India vs Australia: Steve OKeefes 6/35 wraps hosts for 105 runs
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India vs Australia: Steve O'Keefe's 6/35 wraps hosts for 105 runs

Pune: Indian batting saw a major collapse in the first Test against Australia as Steve O’Keefe pulled out his best bowling figures to wrap up the hosts for mere 105 runs at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium here on Friday.

As the Day 2 began, Australia lost its final wicket after adding just four more runs (260) to its Day 1 total of 256/9.

India got off to a shaky start as opener Murli Vijay went back after adding just 10 runs. India's Mr Dependable Cheteshwar Pujara (6) also followed him back to the pavilion, while skipper Virat Kohli suffered a rare duck in the same over. It took 104 international innings for Kohli to sustain a duck after Cardiff ODI against England in 2014.

Opener Lokesh Rahul kept fighting as he scored 64 runs off 97 balls with 10 fours and a six. Ajinkya Rahane (13) and Rahul added 50 runs for the fourth wicket, but Steve O’Keefe was in no mood to give any respite to the Indian batting as he kept taking breakthroughs throughout his 13 over spell.

Also Read: INDvsAUS: Starc lifts Australia after Umesh Yadav’s four-fer

Apart from Rahul, Vijay and Rahane, none other Indian batsman could make it to the double figures.

O’Keefe bagged 6 wickets for 35 runs, while his last five wickets came off the last 19 balls of his spell. Aussie speedster Mitchell Starc also claimed two wickets while Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon plucked one wicket each.

It can be described as one of India's biggest batting collapses as they lost their last seven wickets for just 11 runs which is their worst in Test Cricket till date.

Earlier, winning the toss, Australia decided to bat first and posted an average looking total of 260/10 with the help of fighting half-centuries by opener Matt Renshaw (68) and Mitchell Starc (61).

Umesh Yadav had bagged 4 wickets, while Ravichandran Ashwin took 3 wickets and Ravindra Jadeja got 2 wickets. Jayant Yadav also got a success in his spell.

Australia came back to bat and has already 67 runs for 3 wickets to extend the lead to 222 runs. Steve Smith (35) and Matt Renshaw (2) are batting at the crease.

Shobhit Kalra

Shobhit Kalra

Writer has 10 years of experience in digital media. Presently working as Chief Sub Editor at newstrack.com. An avid reader and always willing to learn new things and techniques.

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