Report: Australia vs India, 1st Test, Day 2, Adelaide

Australia were 517/7 at stumps on the second day after intermittent rain allowed for only 30.4 overs of play to take place at the Adelaide Oval. Resuming on 72, Steven Smith was unbeaten on 162 while Michael Clarke, who had retired hurt yesterday returned to score 128 and put the hosts in an advantageous position. (Also See:  HIGHLIGHTS: 1st TEST, DAY 2 - AUSTRALIA VS INDIA, Adelaide Oval)

Earlier, after a rain delayed start to the second day’s play when Australia resumed on 354/6, Clarke and Smith added 51 runs in about an hour until rain interrupted the game. Smith was just two runs short of his century while the Australia captain was on 85 when the players had to make their way back to the pavilion. 

After an early Lunch, when game was set to begin, a drizzle delayed the start yet again. When the players eventually walked out in the second session, Smith struck Varun Aaron to square-leg to pick two runs to notch up his fifth Test century. The following over witnessed the crowd pay tribute to Phil Hughes as Clarke brought up Australia’s 408 – the number once donned by his former team-mate. 

A ball later, Clarke came down the track and struck Karn Sharma to the boundary to reach 2000 runs against India. And with yet another four past point off the last ball of the over, the pair collected 14 runs from it. However, the run-making was once again halted due to rain in the following over after just 11 balls of play with the Australia skipper two runs short of hundred. 

On the ninth ball after play resumed, Clarke reached his 28th century with a single off Aaron. In their quest to add quick runs under the dark skies before putting India into bat, Smith and Clarke went after the Indian bowlers. Smith smacked Aaron for three boundaries in an over. 

In the following over, Karn drew Smith out but Wriddhiman Saha missed the opportunity to send back the batsman. The middle-order batsman was in good nick as he nudged Mohammed Shami past gully and hit him over covers for boundaries to surpass his previous Test best of 138. However, another shower brought out the covers just as Clarke struck the last ball of the over to the third-man boundary. 

When play resumed for the fourth time on Wednesday, Smith and Clarke helped the team past 500 runs. The batsmen took their chances and continued to add runs at a quick pace. With the partnership worth 163, the Australia captain departed hitting Karn to Cheteshwar Pujara at square-leg. Mitchell Johnson then joined Smith to add to the mountain of runs. But, at the end of the over both sides were forced to return to the dressing rooms due to bad light. 

End of Day 1: Australia 1st inn 354/6 in 89.2 overs (D Warner 145, S Smith 72*, M Shami 2/83, V Aaron 2/95, I Sharma 1/56)

End of Day 2: Australia 1st inn 517/7 in 120 overs (S Smith 162*, M Clarke 128, M Johnson 0*)

source: bcci.tv