XtraTime Web Desk: India is on advantage after the fourth day’s play as the hosts need 219 runs more with six wickets in hand. Though Indian tail-enders failed to impress with the bat in the second innings. Indian assistant coach Sanjay Bangar said, “We were expecting at least 25 runs from them and that is an area where we are continuously looking to improve,”
“We are just hoping the tail-enders, particularly 9-10-11, show a bit more application than they did today.” He added.
“At least 25 runs from there (tail-enders) and that is an area we are continuously looking to improve. We are hoping that the lower order, especially the tail-enders (9, 10 and 11) should show a bit more application than what they did today,” Bangar said after end of day’s play.
Starting from overnight 151 for 3, India made good progress through the first session as Pujara and Rahane took the sting out of the Australian attack with an 87-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
India’s 200 had came up in the 77th over while their 50-partnership came off 103 balls. Pujara reached his 20th Test half-century off 140 balls.
Reward for Nathan Lyon and Pujara’s terrific knock comes to an end.
“We have been through some difficult periods in the previous two tours (South Africa and England) but they have both started well here because when we arrived here in Adelaide, the reception is generally that it is a batting friendly track,” Sanjay said.
“But when we spoke to the groundsman, he was of the opinion that they started using drop in wickets which tend to make the contest more even, 50-50 for batters and there is something for the bowlers as well,” he added.
Australia finally got a breakthrough with Pujara out caught at short leg, off Lyon in the 88th over as the ball looped up.
He walked off to a standing ovation from the Sunday crowd, having faced 450 balls in this match, the second-most for an Indian batsman in a Test on Australian soil after Sachin Tendulkar (525 at Sydney, 2004).
Rahane opened up after the fall of both Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant, and reached his 16th Test half-century off 111 balls.
“Tremendous application for batters especially after where we were at the end of the first session, we lost four wickets but after that a lot of resistance and resilience shown by Pujara and well supported by Rohit and then we somehow managed to scrape through to that total and then bowlers bowled brilliantly,” Bangar said in praise of Rahane and Pujara.
“Ajinkya and Pujara are both quality Test players and whenever they have done well, they have put us in a good pisition,” Bangar added.
India have never won the first Test of a series in Australia and will be gunning for glory on the final day in Adelaide on Monday.