India vs Australia first Test, Day 3: Steve O’Keefe destroys batting line-up, India lose by 333 runs

Before the teams could for a tea break, India was reduced to 96/6 with half of the Indian team has returned to pavilion.

By: Score Keepers |
February 27, 2017 3:56 pm

In the first test between India and Australia held at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune, India lost the game by 333 runs to Australia and the match ended on the third day itself. With this defeat, Voyage of team India of winning 19 continuous Test games in a row has come to an end.

Australian spinner Steve O’Keefe became the prime destroyer who took a total of 12 wickets in the first game of 4-match Test series.

When the game resumed after the lunch on day 3 of the India vs Australia first test match, team India had a huge target of 441 runs to chase on the continuously degrading pitch of Pune in order to win the game and keep their victory voyage unharmed. Both the openers, KL Rahul and Murali Vijay, came to the crease to begin the chase. But moments later, it seemed like the story of day 2 has started repeating as India lost his first wicket pretty early.

The Aussie spinner Steve O’Keefe continued his carnage over the batsmen and he hit the bull’s eye again starting with Murali Vijay and dismissed him after he had scored just 2 runs off 23 balls. After Vijay, within no time, KL Rahul had to return pavilion as the other Australian spinner Nathan Lyon dismissed him at a score of 10.

“It’s been 4502 days since Australia won a Test in India, I know it to the day” – Steve Smith #INDvAUS #INDvsAUS

— Khurram Siddiquee (@imKhurram12) February 25, 2017

Indian batsmen tried their level best to maintain the momentum whatever they were gaining in between but they constantly failed to save their wickets. Skipper Kohli again failed to perform and lost his wicket unbelievably to O’Keefe. Post Kohli’s dismissal, Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara took the charge and tried to sail the ship ahead. Meanwhile, Rahane also went for few aggressive shots and sent the ball out of the fence but this show couldn’t last long. Rahane lost his wicket to O’Keefe at 18(21). Later, Ashwin and Wridhhiman both were hunted down by O’Keefe for 8 and 0 runs respectively and thus, the Aussie spinner completed his 10 wicket haul in this game.

Before the teams could for a tea break, India was reduced to 96/6 with half of the Indian team has returned to pavilion. No great knock came so far from any of the Indian batsman and India still, needs t 345 runs to win this game.

The third and the last session was a complete setback for the guests as the hopes to take over this ongoing match completely ruined up. Wicket came up with the very first ball of the last session thereby by making Cheteshwar Pujara return to the pavilion. No one from the rest of the squad could do well and the wicket falling rate speeded than earlier.