India vs Australia 1st Test Day 2: O'Keefe stars as Australia push India on backfoot

Pune: Australia took firm control of the first Test after they bundled out India for 105 and ended Day 2 at 143 for 4 to take the overall lead to 298 runs at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium here on Friday.

Steve O’Keefe, who rattled the Indian side with his six-wicket haul, was the standout performer for the Steve Smith-led side as they caught India napping on a spinner-friendly wicket.

Read: How Steve O'Keefe dismantled India in Pune

While KL Rahul scored 64, before getting out playing a reckless shot, other Indian batsmen, including Virat Kohli (0), failed to perform with the bat. If the failure with the batting was not enough, India were sloppy in the field as four catches went down in the Australia’s second innings.

Smith, who was dropped thrice, made most of those reprieves as he remained unbeaten on 59 while Mitchell Marsh was not out on 21 at stumps on Day 2.

Australia 143/4 from 46 overs:

Stumps! Australia end day two with 298 runs lead as India have an uphill task to save the Test. Skipper Steve Smith remains unbeaten on 59 while Mitchell Marsh is not out on 21 as second day's play comes to an end.

Australia 113/3 from 34.1 overs:

Wicket! Jayant Yadav has put Renshaw out of his misery. The batsman has departed for 31, Australia lead by 268 runs. Renshaw came down the track with the hope to clear the boundary, but could only scoop it to Ishant, who was fielding at long-off.

Australia 100/3 from 32 overs:

100 up for Australia, the visitors now lead by 255 runs. Smith has now scored over 1000 runs against India at an average of 91.

Australia 86/3 from 30 overs:

Australia now lead by 241 runs and are clearly in the driving seat. Abhinav Mukund has dropped Steve Smith once again. The Aussie skipper has been put down by Indian fielders on 23, 29 and 37.

Australia 63/3 from 23 overs:

Wicket! Third wicket for India and it's Ashwin once again. Peter Handscomb is gone, Cheteshwar Pujara takes the cat at leg-slip. The batsman tried to glance on the leg, jammed it on the thigh pad and gave away the catch.

Australia 59/2 from 19 overs:

Half-chance put down by substitute fielder Abhinav Mukund. Smith tried to smash Jadeja on the leg. Mukund, fielding on long-on, dived to his right for a low catch, got a palm to it but could not collect it.

Australia 46/2 from 16 overs:

Tea-time! Steve Smith and Peter Handscomb have made sure that Australia did not lose any more wickets before tea interval. Australia's session this was.

Australia 34/2 from 10 overs:

WICKETS! R Ashwin is doing his bit to help India make a comeback in this Test. He has knocked out David Warner and Shaun Marsh, who opened the innings as Matt Renshaw could not, in quick succession.

India 105 all out

WICKETS! Steve O'Keefe has completed a six-wicket haul as he sent Ravindra Jadeja and Umesh Yadav packing. Australia have turned the tables on India in the second session to become favourites to win the opening Test.

India 98/8 from 36.3 overs:

WICKET! O'Keefe gets his fourth wicket. Jayant Yadav did not drag his feet back and Matthew Wade was quick to dislodge the bails. Australia have tightened the screws and how!

India 95/7 from 33.3 overs:

WICKET! What's going on here! Australia are running riot in Pune. Ashwin hits one onto his shoe and Handscomb, (yes, it is that man again) who takes a good low catch at the forward short-leg. India in a deep hole.

India 95/6 from 33 overs:

THREE WICKETS IN AN OVER! Steve O'Keefe is all over India. From 94/3 to 95/6 in space of 6 balls. O'Keefe first gets out KL Rahul as he plays a reckless shot. Then departs Rahane as Peter Handscomb takes a brilliant catch diving towards his right in the slips. Saha follows Rahane back to the dressing room as he edges one to the slip.

India 70/3 from 25 overs:

Lunch! KL Rahul has been the standout batsman from the Indian line-up this morning. While Starc and Hazlewood have been on a roll, Rahul has managed to score at brisk pace. But India will need him and Ajinkya Rahane to bat long to get past Australia's total of 260.

India 44/3 from 14.4 overs:

WICKET! HUGE WICKET! Australia are on a roll, Starc removes Virat Kohli for zero. Indian captain chases one outside off and edges it straight to first slip. India in trouble.

India 44/2 from 14.2 overs:

WICKET! Beaut of a delivery from Mitchell Starc. Pace and bounce have done Pujara in as he tried to defend it. Brilliant bowling from Starc.

India 26/1 from 6.5 overs:

WICKET! Josh Hazlewood strikes in his first over. Typical Hazlewood line and length and he draws Vijay into the trap. He edges it and Wade does the needful behind the wickets. India 1 down.

India 25/0 from 6 overs:

Good, positive start from India. Vijay looking solid, KL Rahul playing his shots against Mitchell Starc and Steve O'Keefe.

Australia 260 all out from 94.5 overs:

WICKET! It got over quickly. R Ashwin has scalped Mitchell Starc in the first over of the day two as India did not allow Australia to get close to 300 runs.

Pune: India will look to cut short the Australian fightback as they aim to wrap up the Australian inning quickly on day two of the opening Test at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium here on Friday.

Virat Kohli-led Indian side had Australians at rope after Umesh Yadav’s four-wicket haul had reduced the Steve Smith-led unit to 205-9 on a spinner-friendly pitch. However, Mitchell Starc’s half-century and an unbeaten 51-run stand for the last wicket with Josh Hazlewood made sure Australia cross 250-run mark.

While India tried every bowler in their arsenal – R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Umesh and Jayant Yadav, Starc and Hazlewood succeeded in tackling all of them.

While the pitch is expected to turn square quickly, India will be aiming to get at least a 100-run lead on a pitch that can surprise the batsmen.