India vs Australia 2017: Series Is Well And Truly Alive, Says A Determined Steven Smith After Bengaluru Loss
Mar 7, 2017 at 4:21 PM
Ravichandran Ashwin’s stellar fourth innings spell broke the Australian resilience to hand India a series equalling 75-run victory in the Bengaluru Test. The momentum of the game, which favored the visitors for most part of the Test, swung back wildly in India’s favour on fourth day of the match which was filled with edge of the seat contest between the bat and ball.
Australia was sort of favourites going into Day 4. After a solid 118-run stand between Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, Indian crumbled to just 274 runs after being 238/4 at one stage. The stump shattering spell with the new ball from Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood in the afternoon session proved more than enough for the visitors to pull themselves in the contest.
However, the effort put up by Pujara and Rahane proved to be the turning point for India. Speaking at the post-match presentation, Australia skipper Steven Smith acknowledged the fact and congratulated the duo.
“Great Test match,” said Steven Smith.
“Certainly ebbed and flowed throughout. I am proud of the way the boys played it. The partnership between Rahane and Pujara hurt us. They played really well. And we weren’t up for it. It was quite hard to play.”
Set 187 to win, Australia started with a counter-attacking approach as openers David Warner and Matt Renshaw went after the bowlers. But the Indian bowlers, backed by the uneven bounce and turn from the wicket, quickly made in-roads with Ashwin leading the way from the front.
“Bit up and down with the quicks throughout the match, and that rough outside off. Quite difficult but Test match cricket is not supposed to be easy. A wicket like that, always umpires have to make a lot of calls. Everyone makes mistakes. Not that I am saying they made any,” he added.
Australia will look forward to make a comeback in the series which now moves to Ranchi. With the series 1-1, the third tTst will most likely be the series deciding game as the team winning the contest will certainly take away a huge moral advantage.
“Series is well and truly alive. Great two Tests. Plenty to play for when we go to Ranchi,” Smith signed off.