India in control despite lower-order collapse as Australia chase 323
Adelaide, Dec 9: India remained in driver's seat despite lower-order collapse as Australia lost opener Aaron Finch's wicket at the stroke of tea in pursuit of a stiff target of 323 on the fourth day of the first Test on Sunday.
Aaron Finch (11), survived a loud leg before appeal on zero off Ishant Sharma's second ball of the second innings. He went for DRS review and the decision was turned because it was a no ball.
Ashwin however nabbed just before tea as the ball brushed his gloves before looping up for keeper Rishabh Pant to claim an easy catch. Marcus Harris (14 batting) was unbeaten at the other end.
Earlier, India lost five wickets for 25 runs after lunch to get bowled out for 307 in their second innings riding on half-centuries from Cheteshwar Pujara (71) and Ajinkya Rahane (70).
India only added 47 runs for their last five wickets after resumption of play post lunch.
Rishabh Pant (28) continued attacking Nathan Lyon (6-122) but didn't last long as a wild swing found the fielder at deep cover. It started the Indian slide.
Ashwin (5) and Ajinkya Rahane (70) played uncharacteristic strokes, indicating that a declaration was forthcoming. But India never got to that point.
Ashwin was caught pulling in the deep off Mitchell Starc (3-40) while Rahane was out caught reverse sweeping. Mohammed Shami (0) was out caught first ball, wildly swinging at Lyon.
Ishant Sharma (0) was bounced out as India were bowled out in just 11.5 overs after lunch. Their last seven wickets cost only 73 runs. Earlier, Pujara and Rahane took India to 260 for five at lunch.
Starting from overnight 151 for 3, India made good progress through the first session as Pujara and Rahane ground down the Australian attack with an 87-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Pujara started on a positive note with successive fours early in the day's play. India's main threat came from Nathan Lyon (3-92), who was using the rough on the pitch to trouble the batsmen.
Rahane survived an appeal for a catch in the 74th over via DRS when replays showed that the bat was nowhere near the ball.
India's 200 had came up in the 77th over while their 50-partnership came off 103 balls. Pujara reached his 20th Test half-century off 140 balls.
The duo continued to grind down the Australian bowling as their pacers' body language started looking tiresome. Mitchell Starc (1-34) took the second new ball as soon as it became available but was wayward at best.
Australia finally got a breakthrough with Pujara out caught at short leg, off Lyon in the 88th over as the ball looped up.
He walked off to a standing ovation from the Sunday crowd, having faced 450 balls in this match, the second-most for an Indian batsman in a Test on Australian soil after Sachin Tendulkar (525 at Sydney, 2004).
Rohit Sharma (1) came to the crease thereafter, but left quickly, caught at silly point smartly by Peter Handscomb as Lyon picked up his third wicket.
Young Pant though decided to attack and took India past 250 before lunch. At the other end, Rahane had opened up to play pull strokes off the pacers against the new ball and reached his 16th Test half-century off 111 balls.
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Kane scores hat trick and Bayern extends Bundesliga lead to 11 points
Berlin (AP): Harry Kane was substituted in at the hour mark and still had enough time to score a hat trick on Saturday.
The England captain took his goal tally for Bayern Munich this season to 28 and the defending champions extended their lead to 11 points after thrashing Stuttgart 5-0 on the road.
Second-placed Leipzig later hosted Eintracht Frankfurt.
With Kane on the bench, Konrad Laimer took on the scoring duties and produced a superb finish. The Austria midfielder collected a long ball and combined with Michael Olise before slotting home from close range with a subtle backheel past goalkeeper Alexander Nübel in the 11th minute.
Kane made it 2-0 with a low shot into the bottom corner and Josip Stanišic added his name to the scoresheet. Kane added further luster to the win from the penalty spot after Stuttgart was reduced to 10 men for Lorenz Assignon using his arm to clear a ball in the 81st.
Kane completed the rout with a flick from an Olise cross with two minutes left. He has found the net five more times with England this season, taking his total to 33 goals for club and country.
Stuttgart had chances before halftime but lacked a cutting edge. Midfielder Nikolas Nartey thought he equalized only for his goal to be ruled out for offside after a VAR check.
Bayern Munich is unbeaten in 16 league and cup games against German opposition this season.
Other results
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Bayer Leverkusen suffered a fourth loss, 2-0 at Augsburg.
Defender Dimitrios Giannoulis put the host in front after six minutes then turned provider to set up forward Anton Kade. Leverkusen, which hit the woodwork, remained in fourth place, 14 points behind Bayern.
Wolfsburg scored from all of its shots on target and moved four points clear of the relegation zone after beating Union Berlin 3-1. Heidenheim defeated Freiburg 2-1. Cologne and St. Pauli drew 1-1.
