India vs Australia 2017, 1st Test, Day 2: Steve O’Keefe Wrecks Havoc, Takes Maiden Five-Fer In Tests
Feb 24, 2017 at 3:52 PM
If Day 1 of the opening Test at the MCS Stadium, Pune was an evenly fought display for cricket, the second day already turned out to be lop-sided. Steve O’Keefe picked up 6/35 as Virat Kohli-led India collapsed to 105 all out, giving Australia a vital 155-run lead. Ravichandran Ashwin removed Mitchell Starc for 61 in the first over of the day and went past Kapil Dev for the most number of wickets taken by an Indian in a domestic season. However, a huge disappointment was waiting for the Indians.
Coming out to bat, India started off on shaky grounds with Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli departed cheaply, leaving the host reeling at 44/3. KL Rahul then kicked off a counter-attacking routine which stabilised the Indian innings to some extent, before O’ Keefe triggered the hosts worst seven-wicket slide. In the post the lunch interval, India lost seven wickets for 11 runs in 48 deliveries in a matter of 39 minutes. Before this, their worst collapse was seven for 18 runs in Christchurch in 1989-90.
It took O’Keefe just four overs to grab India by the collar and push them out of the contest in the first innings. Thanks to his bowling antics, Australia now sit firm in the leader’s position and will definitely show an aggressive approach to compound the lead and post a huge target for India to chase. With the pitch deteriorating with every delivery being bowled on it, batting in the fourth innings won’t be an easy task and Kohli and his men will have to be prepared to play special knocks to save their team from embarrassment.