An aesthetic Usman Khawaja century has steered Australia into the field seat in Ahmedabad after a late counterpunch from West Aussie Cameron Green shocked the wilting Indians.
It was Australia’s day to open the fourth and ultimate Test with the guests wanting to attract the sequence and show they’ll adapt to the sub-continent situations after a disastrous begin to the Border-Gavaskar sequence.
After grinding for a lot of the day on a sluggish wicket, providing the least flip of any pitch all through the sequence, the guests completed with a flurry, Green feasting on the second new ball to get Australia to 4-255 on the shut.
But it was Khawaja who earned plaudits, batting all day to notch his first century on Indian soil.
He performed a chanceless, albeit sluggish, innings, exhibiting the total face of the bat in defence and the total drive of his wrists to place the dangerous balls away.
He had the revelling crowd on the sting of their seats as he entered the ultimate over of the day on 99, however he wanted only one extra supply, flicking Mohammed Shami to the mid-wicket boundary.
He scurried a fast single on the final ball to stay 104n.o.
After a wayward begin, together with Shami bringing again recollections of the 2006-07 Ashes sequence along with his greatest Steve Harmison impression, bowling the primary ball of the Test to second slip, the Indian bowlers had been up and about as Travis Head squandered a vibrant begin.
He was caught on 32 charging Ravi Ashwin.
Marnus Labuschagne’s luck was nowhere to be discovered as he was pinned to the crease, forcing him to thrust his fingers on the ball earlier than chopping onto leg stump, making an attempt to penetrate the covers on three.
Steve Smith and Khawaja made it via a scorching, powerful second session with out shedding a wicket, the primary time it has occurred on this sequence, with a 79-run partnership.
But it was the Tea break that did for the stand-in skipper, shedding focus as a thick inside edge crashed into his pegs on 38.
Peter Handscomb upped his run fee, however his approach in opposition to fast bowling got here beneath fireplace once more as his off stump was despatched cartwheeling on 17 by Shami.
Green by no means seemed flustered as he joined Khawaja within the center, taking the assault to the Indian quicks, who misplaced their radar beneath the onslaught.
More than 100 runs had been scored within the ultimate session.
His driving was a characteristic as he reached the shut of play unbeaten on 49.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
