India reached 119 for two wickets till lunch on the third day after Australia declared their first innings at the score of 517 for seven wickets in the first of the four-match Test series at the Adelaide Ocal Thursday.
India lost openers Shikhar Dhawan (25) while Murali Vijay (53) while Cheteshwar Pujara (unbeaten 34) and Virat Kohli (unbeaten 3) were at the crease till lunch as the host decided to make full use of the early morning conditions by having a crack at the young Indian batting line-up.
Indian openers started cautiously. They showed a lot of patience and did not score in the first two overs bowled by pacers Mitchell Johns on and Ryan Harris.
Left-hand batsman Dhawan started the calculated onslaught in the third over, spanking left-arm pacer Johnson for three boundaries through leg side and followed it up with another cracking cut in the his next over.
Vijay was watchful and defended solidly against the testing line and length persisted by right-arm pacer Harris. He took 19 deliveries to scored his first run with a punch through mid-off that fetched him three. Harris was the better of the two bowlers with Johnson's ploy of bowling full did not work.
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However, Dhawan lost his wicket, dragging a Harris delivery on to his stumps as he tried to drive a ball on the up with his front foot not in perfect position. Harris was the better of the two bowlers with Johnson's ploy of bowling full did not work.
As new batsman Pujara walked in, the team scoreboard read 30 for one in 7.4 overs. The Saurashtra batsman took time to settle and judged the pace and bounce well before getting on to his business. He scored regular boundaries through the leg side as Johnson and Peter Siddle bowled full. On the other hand, Vijay shifted his gear in the 17th over bowled with two consecutive fours - one a brilliant drive through cover -other a beautiful flick through mid-wicket.
He made good use of his feet when spinner Nathon Lyon came on to bowl, milking him for a six over mid-on and a four with a backfoot punch through the extra cover. He followed it up by dancing down the track and hitting it over the offie's head.
Australia skipper Michael Clarke brought in Johnson and the bowler delivered by taking the wicket of Vijay, who guided a full delivery that shaped away from him to the wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
