X

India v Australia, Ranchi Test Day 1, lunch report: Warner, Renshaw, Marsh in the hut, visitors reeling at 109/3

It has been India’s session, out-an-out. Finally, India have their noses in front for the first time in the series. The Ranchi pitch seems to be playing true, but Australia have still lost their openers and  the crucial wicket of Shaun Marsh. It has to be said that India has bowled extremely well. The pacers and the spinners have always kept the Australians under pressure and got rewarded for it. Warner played a horrible shot, he was out of a juicy full toss, of which he managed to smash it bam to Jadeja, it was not a simple catch as it was coming like a trace of bullet. Renshaw showed glimpses of being aggressive but when he was just looking set, he edged one to get out. Umesh Yadav has started from where he left of in Bengaluru, showing big heart.

Australia may have lost three important wickets but that has not affected their run scoring. They have maintained a run rate just shy of four, throughout. They probably realise that even a 250 could be a massive score on this wicket. Apart from Ishant Sharma, the other three bowlers got a wicket-a-piece.

The Marsh edge brings Handscomb to the crease with about 15 minutes to go until lunch: https://t.co/EgbDSOUWdB #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/cvuCpHtQ1R

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) March 16, 2017

There is a big task in front of Steve Smith and Peter Handscomb to resurrect things. Smith has got a start, he is unbeaten on 34* and Handscomb on 6*.

That’s lunch! A quality morning of Test cricket with Smith 34* and Handscomb 6* at the break: https://t.co/EgbDSOUWdB #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/xsBkT5B9ig

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) March 16, 2017