Pune: Left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe had the Indian batsmen in tangles with yet another five-wicket haul as the hosts were staring at an embarrassing defeat against Australia, tottering at 99 for 6 by the tea time on the third day of the first cricket Test.
O’Keefe was again the wrecker-in-chief again grabbing 5 for 33 to add to his first innings 6 for 35 that has left India on the brink of suffering their first defeat at home in 21 Tests since the Kolkata game against England in 2012.
India require 342 runs with only four wickets in hand and no one is expecting a miracle with all the top batsmen barring Cheteshwar Pujara (31 batting) back in the hut.
This was after Australia scored 285 in their second innings with skipper Steven Smith providing a masterclass of playing spin scoring 109 — his 18th ton in Tests.
For India, the batsmen out in the Indian second essay, apart from Kohli, were the two openers Murali Vijay (2) and first innings top-scorer K L Rahul (10) both wasting DRS when it was Umpires’ call.
Ajinkya Rahane (18) and Saha (5) were also dismissed cheaply.
Vijay and Rahul both were trapped leg before, by O’Keefe and Lyon respectively and also foolishly decided to go in for DRS when both appeared to be caught plumb in front, leaving India without any DRS calls after 5.3 overs when they had slumped to 16 for 2.
While Vijay was deceived by a straight ball, Rahul played back to be hit low on the pad and both were instantly given out before asking for DRS.
Kohli and No 3 Cheteshwar Pujara, who looked the most assured of the top order in handing vicious turn, took the score along to 47 when the India skipper, expecting the ball to turn, offered no shot and O’Keefe’s delivery held its line and hit the off stump.
Rahane was out on the drive, caught by Lyon diving forward at short covers, to give O Keefe his third wicket of the innings and ninth of the game.
The left arm spinner took 6 for 35 in the first innings and sped India to their doom with a magical spell of 6 for 5 in 24 balls. And to make matters even more hopeless for the hosts, Ravichandran Ashwin was out leg before to O’Keefe to provide the rookie Malaysia-born tweaker his maiden ten-wicket haul in his fifth Test.
Ashwin was given not out by the umpire before Australia pressed for DRS and got the verdict reversed in their favour.
Later Saha was out leg before in the last over before tea to complete a miserable second session for the home team.
PTI
