India were jolted by a couple of early blows but recovered to reach 84 for two in their first innings at tea on the second day of their first cricket Test against Australia here today.
After Australia were bowled out for a competitive 380, the Indian reply did not get off to the best of starts as openers Virender Sehwag (10) and Murali Vijay (2) departed in close succession.
At the break, Cheteshwar Pujara (33) and Sachin Tendulkar (38) were at the crease for the home team.
Vijay and Sehwag were dismissed by James Pattinson, who has figures of 2/16 in the three overs he has bowled, including a maiden.
Both the openers were out clean bowled. Vijay was the first to go after a 15-ball stay, which included two fours, done in by Pattinson’s pace.
Sehwag quickly followed his partner back to the pavillion, failing to spot a slower one from Pattionson which bounced inside the crease and dislodged his leg stump.
But Pujara and Tendulkar steadied the rocking boat, bringing up the team’s 50 in the 13th over. The two displayed patience but at the same time kept the scoreboard ticking.
They completed a half-century stand for the third wicket in 68 deliveries to rescue India from the precarious position and have so far combined to add 72 runs.
Pujara has struck five fours, one more than Tendulkar, who survived a close leg before appeal from spinner Nathan Lyon close to the tea break.
Earlier, in the morning session, Australian batsmen frustrated Indian bowlers with determined batting before being bowled out for 380 in their first innings.
Resuming at 316 for 7, the visitors resisted the home attack for 38 overs and added 64 runs. They were also helped to an extent by a few decisions that went in their favour much to to India’s frustration.
Since the last-wicket pair of James Pattinson and Nathan Lyon was at the crease at the official lunch time, the morning session was extended and at the fall of the latter, the break was taken.
Indian off-spinner R Ashwin registered his career-best figures (7/103) while Ravindra Jadeja (2/71) took two wickets.
Michael Clarke and Peter Siddle kept the Indian bowlers at bay for about 90 minutes before the Australian captain went for an extravagant shot off Jadeja, miscued it and gave the hosts a chance to clean up the tail.
Clarke stepped out to loft Jadeja over his head for a straight six but just managed an edge that flew to the hands of Bhuvneshwar Kumar at long-off.
Clarke’s splendid 130-run captain’s knock came off 246 balls with 13 boundaries including one shot over the fence.
It also ended 54-run fighting stand between him Siddle (19).
Soon, Harbhajan Singh’s long wait to get a wicket ended when he had Siddle caught at first slip. Playing his 100th Test and going wicket-less on the opening day, it took the off-spinner the last ball of his 24th over to get his first.