India have a lead of 144 runs, albeit just three wickets remaining. India were 321 for 7 at stumps.
India lost skipper Rohit Sharma in the first over after tea break but all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel completed superb half-centuries to help the hosts reach 321/7 at stumps on the second day of the first Test of the four-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
At the close of play, Jadeja was batting on 66 while Axar Patel was keeping him company with 52 runs as India took 144 runs lead with three wickets in hand and three days to play.The duo added 81 runs for the unbeaten eighth-wicket partnership which has really put India in the driver’s seat in this match. Todd Murphy claimed a maiden five-wicket haul on debut.
However, India were down to 229/6 and had a small lead of 52 runs with Jadeja the lone recognised batter in the middle. But Jadeja played sensibly and despite losing debutant K.S Bharat (8) with the score 240/7 in the 84th over, the all-all-rounder from Saurashtra, who had claimed 5-47 in Australia’s first innings, found an able partner in Axar Patel as they extended India’s lead.
Jadeja completed his half-century off 114 balls, hitting seven fours as he and Axar Patel took India’s lead past 100 runs, setting them up on course for a big lead.