Match Blog: Virat Kohli Castled, India Three Down

Just when India were looking like they were going to get this partnership going, Virat Kohli is castled by Steven O’Keefe. The skipper looks to defend, the delivery spins its way past his pads and onto mid-stump.

O’Keefe’s second wicket. India need another 394 runs.

Two quick wickets and Virat Kohli is at the crease for India with Cheteshwar Pujara. Both batsmen will be carrying disappointments from the first innings with Pujara having scored 6 and Kohli falling for a duck.

India have posted 41/2 in 15 overs

Both the openers are back in the hut. But that’s not all India’s lost. Rahul too asks for a review of his lbw decision off Lyon. No change in the call, once again.

India:16/2 in 5.3 overs

Murali Vijay and KL Rahul started India’s innings in this monumental chase of 441 runs.

Not too much time spent together in the middle though, Vijay is trapped lbw by O’Keefe. He does ask for a review. There will be no change in the decision.

LUNCH WRAP

Steven Smith led from the front with a century as Australia posted 285 in their second innings at lunch. Dropped by Ajinkya Rahane off Ravichandran Ashwin's bowling, the Australian skipper went on to make the most of the reprieve to post 109, his first century in India. He hit 11 boundaries during his 202-ball stay in the middle before being trapped leg before by Ravindra Jadeja.

Ashwin dismissed Steve O'Keefe to put an end to Australia's second innings at the stroke of lunch. The visitors now have a lead of 440 runs. The spinner was the most successful among the Indians with figures of 4/119. Jadeja and fast bowler Umesh Yadav clinched three and two wickets respectively, while rookie off-spinner Jayant Yadav had one scalp to his name

India need 441 runs to win the match. A historic chase, if they manage.

Australia: 285 all out in 87 overs (Steven Smith 109; R Ashwin 4/119, Ravindra Jadeja 3/65)

Virat Kohli makes a bowling change. Ashwin and Jadeja change to Umesh and the results are there. Fourth delivery of the over and Nathan Lyon is caught lbw on 13.

Australia: 279/9, lead by 434 runs.

Lunch will have to wait. Play continues for half n hour more to possibly wrap up the innings.

Nathan Lyon and Steve O’Keefe continue to give India a tough time, this time with the bat. The two tough aren't all that India has to fight. There’s history as well!

Australia are piling on their lead and our stats man says India will have to record the highest run-chase in history to win the match.

30 off 31. He was looking for the big runs, having scored three sixes already but Mitchell Starc’s charge is stopped at 31 by Ashwin.

A carrom ball to get his bowling counterpart out. Caught by KL Rahul.

Australia: 258/8

Ravindra Jadeja has managed to get the big wicket India needed this morning. One and a half hours into the day’s play and Steve Smith is back in the hut on 109.

The Aussie skipper has completed his century. This one will be special. A tough pitch to bat on, only three half centuries in the entire match and Smith reaches the first three-figure mark.

The world’s top Test batsman and his 18th century in the format. 10th Test hundred as Captain.

The focus is on Wade. He knows what he’s done and three deliveries later - he edges again. This time he’s walking.

Umesh Yadav has got his wicket. Virat has his eyes on Wade, and he’s nodding his head.

The keeper is out on 20. Australia: 204/6

Skipper Steve Smith and Matthew Wade are forging ahead for Australia, crossing the 200-run mark with ease.

On 202, the ball catches an edge off Wade’s bat and Saha catches it low behind the stumps. Wade indicates that it was not out. And the umpire too gives it not out. India have no reviews left and replays show there was a nick.

Virat Kohli is livid, to put it mildly.

A thin outside edge is all that’s needed, and India have their first wicket of the day. Ravindra Jadeja’s delivery. Wriddhiman Saha’s safe hands.

Mitch Marsh walks on 31. Australia 169/5.

Smooth sailings for the Aussie skipper and Mitch Marsh in the middle this morning.

India starting with Ashwin and Jadeja from the two ends.

7 wickets in 11 deliveries. On a disaster scale, this Indian collapse rates pretty much on top. And the numbers agree.

Read statistician Arun Gopalakrishnan’s Day 2 analysis here: In Stats: India’s Record Collapse & the Advent of O’Keefe on Day 2

Left-arm spinner Steeve O'Keefe's career-best six-wicket haul gave Australia a firm grip on the first Test against India in Pune on the second day itself. Virat Kohli’s team lost 7 wickets in the space of 11 runs to be bowled out for a pathetic 105, handing the momentum to the Australians, who had themselves folded for an underwhelming 260 here.

With a 155-run cushion on a square turner, Australia pressed home the advantage by finishing the day at 143/4 in their second innings, grabbing a lead of 298 runs on just the second day of the match.