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Australia v India second Test live: Tim Paine’s savage Kohli sledge

Tim Paine let rip after Virat Kohli’s dismissal, victory in sight for Australia after another lively day’s play in Perth | WATCH

Andrew Faulkner and Adrian McMurray
10 min read
12:15PMDecember 17, 2018.
Updated 9:18PMDecember 17, 2018
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Tim Paine celebrates as Virat Kohli walks after being dismissed on day four. Picture: Getty Images
Tim Paine celebrates as Virat Kohli walks after being dismissed on day four. Picture: Getty Images

Australia are in the box seat at stumps on day four, India 5-112 requiring 175 runs for victory tomorrow. See how another lively day in Perth unfolded below.

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Andrew Faulkner 8.58pm: Stumps on day four

The tourists have limped to 5-112 at stumps, with Vihari on 24 (58 balls, four fours) and Rishabh Pant on nine (19 balls), needing 175 runs to go 2-0 up ahead of Boxing Day. That’s a notional number, given the state of the wicket, the quality of the Australian bowling, and the length of the Indian tail. The weather bureau says there’s zero chance of rain tomorrow, so the Australians should be celebrating their first win in seven Tests before lunch tomorrow.

Nathan Lyonand Josh Hazlewood leave the field at the end of play during day four. Picture: Getty Images
Nathan Lyonand Josh Hazlewood leave the field at the end of play during day four. Picture: Getty Images

The two Indians at the crease are the last of the recognised batsmen — knock in the door tomorrow and the house will come crashing down. Hazlewood has 2-24 from 11 overs but Lyon (2-30) was the star again, knocking over Kohli and Vijay to all but end India’s hopes. If the tourists lose, as they surely will, they lost it at the selection table. Playing Umesh Yadav ahead of Bhuvneshwar Kumar appeared a mistake before the Test and with hindsight it’s still a mistake. Umesh didn’t bowl as badly as some have said, but with the swing on show throughout the Test Kumar would have been more of the threat. Just as importantly, he would have shortened the tail in a relatively low-scoring match.

Andrew Faulkner 8.30pm: Hazlewood with the breakthrough

Wicket! Rahane’s gone slashing to point. The vice-captain’s been well caught by Travis Head looking into the low sun. Hazlewood has a second and India’s lost a fifth as play enters overtime to complete the required overs. This probably won’t end tonight but nothing would surprise in this extraordinary Test match.

Adrian McMurray 8.19pm: Rahane, Vihari dig in

Rahane and Vihari are digging in, providing great resistance at a time when it seemed like a middle order collapse was on the cards. Lyon and Hazlewood have toiled with little success, Cummins giving the spinner a rest. The tourists are up to 4-97, requiring another 190 runs for victory.

Adrian McMurray 7.42pm: Paine’s savage Kohli sledge

What about this from Paine after Kohli’s dismissal?

India 4-75.

Andrew Faulkner 7.35pm: Lyon takes another

Lyon has a second wicket after spinning one through Vijay’s gate to bowl the Indian opener for 20. It was a classic of the off-spinner’s art, curling away before kissing the rough and catching the inside edge on its way to the stumps.

The Australians are marching towards their first win in seven Tests and it shows by the way they’re whooping it up in the middle. India are 4-64 and with 18 overs remaining, they might even wrap it up tonight.

Andrew Faulkner 7.16pm: Lyon takes the key wicket

WICKET! Kohli’s gone, and with him go India’s chances of saving the Test. The Indian captain’s edged to Khawaja at slip for 17, to leave the tourists bereft and all but beaten at 3-48. After his magnificent five-wicket haul in the first innings, Lyon has struck the key blow in the second.

Andrew Faulkner 6.58pm: The Test that keeps giving

This is the Test that just keeps on giving. Despite the odds, despite the pitch and, despite the fired-up Australian quicks, Kohli and Vijay are playing some astonishing cricket shots. With a flick of his wrists, Kohli just whipped Cummins for a four through mid-wicket. That followed an astonishing stroke from Vijay, whose forward defensive stroke rocketed to the cover rope. He must have some bat. Lyon’s into the attack from the Langer end with the score 2-44, with Kohli on 15 and Vijay on 18.

Andrew Faulkner 6.36pm: India resume the rearguard

Kohli apparently was seen ambling about the nets during the break. Ensuring his eyes remained accustomed to the bright light, perhaps? He’ll need every advantage, no matter how small, if he’s to engineer an escape. Cummins and Hazlewood have opened after the tea break with India in deep trouble.

Remaining attuned to the light can’t have done any harm — Kohli’s smashed a Hazlewood short ball to the square leg rope, whereupon Murali Vijay cover-drove Cummins for another four. But that’s done little to improve a sick-looking card that reads 2-27.

Adrian McMurray 6.05pm: Chance before Tea

There’s a good chance for Hazlewood, Vijay edging but it doesn’t carry to the slips! A maiden for the Aussie quick before Tea, India 2-15 at the break with Kohli yet to move off the mark. The hosts could kill this off with a few more wickets in the final session, especially if they can get Kohli. India require 272 for victory.

Adrian McMurray 5.54pm: Another one down

WICKET! They’ve been falling thick and fast since lunch. We went two overs without a dismissal … but Hazlewood ended that. Brilliant delivery from the Aussie quick, Pujara attempts to fend but he gloves it to Paine. Just the four for the No 3, and that brings Kohli to the crease. India 2-13.

Adrian McMurray 5.40pm: Rahul falls in the first over

WICKET! There we go, in the very first over, Rahul chops on to depart for a duck! Starc does the damage, and that’s disastrous for India. Bad Test for the Indian opener, who managed just two in the first innings. India 1-0.

Mitchell Starc celebrates after taking the wicket of Lokesh Rahul. Picture: Getty Images
Mitchell Starc celebrates after taking the wicket of Lokesh Rahul. Picture: Getty Images

Adrian McMurray 5.27pm: India set 287 for victory

WICKET! There it is, Bumrah bowls Starc to end the tail’s brief — but fun — cameo. What a spell from Shami — 6/56. So Australia are all out for 243, India need 287 for victory.

Mohammed Shami celebrates. Picture: Getty Images
Mohammed Shami celebrates. Picture: Getty Images

Adrian McMurray 5.18pm: Tail pushes lead out

The Australian tailenders are hitting boundaries for fun! Starc and Hazlewood have a pair of fours each, as the lead pushes to 275. Australia 9-232. How long will they last?

Adrian McMurray 4.52pm: Lyon hit, then dismissed

Lyon, much like Harris yesterday, has taken one on the helmet. He receives treatment — and a new helmet — but appears to be OK. The very next ball … WICKET! Shami gets his sixth of the innings, Lyon gone for five, caught by Vihari at deep point. Australia 9-207.

Adrian McMurray 4.36pm: Another one falls

WICKET! Bumrah gets in on the action, bowling Cummins who made just one run. That was quite the ball, clattering into middle stump. It’s Lyon and Starc out there now, and the hosts add four leg byes after ‘the GOAT’ glances one off his pads. Australia 8-202.

Adrian McMurray 4.28pm: Can’t stop Shami

WICKET! Shami is on fire. Khawaja his latest victim, the No 3 edging to Pant. His 72 is the best from an Australian batsman this innings, but Paine would’ve hoped Khawaja would’ve stuck around a bit longer to increase that lead. At the fall of that wicket, Australia are 3-8 after lunch. They’re 7-198, the lead at 241 runs.

Adrian McMurray 4.10pm: Chaos after Lunch

In the very first over after Lunch … WICKET! Mohammed Shami snares the wicket of Paine, the Australian captain fends one to the slips. He’s gone for 37, and the returning Finch makes his way to the middle.

But he doesn’t stick around for long, gone the very next ball! WICKET! Finch gloves to Pant, Shami’s on a hat-trick his next over. Cummins to the middle. Australia 6-192.

Andrew Faulkner 3.33pm: When to declare?

Khawaja (67) and Paine (37) have batted though the session to go lunch on 4-190. With the lead now out to 233, Paine’s thoughts would be turning from survival to when he should declare. They added 58 in the session, so do the same again in the afternoon and the lead will be close to 300, which should be enough. The Kohli factor might prompt him to bat on for another hour after team just to be sure …

Adrian McMurray 3.25pm: ‘Keep your cool, Virat’

With tensions simmering in the Perth heat, umpire Chris Gaffaney stepped in calm both skippers.

Umpire Chris Gaffaney with Indian captain Virat Kohli and Australian captain Tim Paine. Picture: AAP
Umpire Chris Gaffaney with Indian captain Virat Kohli and Australian captain Tim Paine. Picture: AAP

“That’s enough,” he said. “Come on, just play the game. You’re the captains!”

Paine replied: “We’re just trying to have a conversation. There’s no swearing.”

Gaffaney responded: “Tim, you’re the captain”.

Paine ends the exchange with a quick message to his counterpart: “Keep your cool, Virat”.

Adrian McMurray 3.11pm: ‘There’s plenty of feeling out there’

The Fox Cricket cameras captured a tense moment between both captains, with Kohli seemingly standing his ground as Paine ran to the crease.

Fox Cricket’s Michael Hussey said it’s likely all a ploy in an attempt to get to the Aussie skipper.

“There’s a bit of feeling out there now,” he said. “I just wonder if Virat’s a little worried, and just trying to use another tactic to get inside Tim Paine’s head, trying to put him off his game a little bit.”

“Great theatre, great theatre,” Adam Gilchrist added.

Australia are up to 4-182, the lead now at 225 runs.

Virat Kohli and Tim Paine bump into each other during day four. Picture: Getty Images
Virat Kohli and Tim Paine bump into each other during day four. Picture: Getty Images

Andrew Faulkner 2.34pm: Khawaja brings up fifty

The umpires were checking the ball at drinks, with complaints it was out of shape, and they’ve brought in the new ball.

Khawaja has brought up a fighting 50 — a hand of great courage and enormous worth. And it came in fine style when he flicked Ishant through the on-side — a rare in-front-of-the-wicket shot on this pitch today — to go to 52 from 155 balls. At 4-157, the lead’s now up to 200.

Andrew Faulkner 2.09pm: Australian lead mounting

Bit by bit, run by precious run, the Australian lead is slowly mounting. The ball’s hooping around, adding to the challenge posed by the pitch. Khawaja (45) and Paine (17) are doing sterling work for their side to edge the score to 4-146. Ishant Sharma (Langer End) and Umesh Yadav (Members End) have relieved Bumrah and Shami as the Australians continue to frustrate the tourists.

Khawaja had a close shave when he set off for a single after dropping a Bumrah short ball towards mid-wicket. Bumrah moved quickly to the ball, gathering it cleanly to spin around and throw at the bowlers’ end stumps. Khawaja would’ve been just short of his ground had the throw hit.

Andrew Faulkner 1.44pm: Solid start to day four

Aaron Finch has the pads on so unless he’s one of those nervous types who pads up with several players ahead of him in the order, he’ll bat next. Khawaja and Paine have started solidly to add seven runs in the first 20 minutes this morning.

Playing late and with soft hands, the Australians are proceeding cautiously on the fraught surface. Although the morning roll might have pacified some of the pitch’s demons — for the time being. At 4-139, the lead’s now 182.

Adrian McMurray 1.36pm: ‘He’s exactly what Test cricket needs’

Former England captain Michael Vaughan says Kohli is exactly what Test cricket needs.

Speaking on Fox Cricket just before today’s play, Vaughan says he “loves” the way the Indian skipper approaches the game.

“He’s just full of energy, full of emotion,” Vaughan said. “I think he’s exactly what Test match cricket needs.

“(He’s a) little bit confrontational out in the middle every now and again, but give me Virat Kohli any day of the week.”

Meanwhile out in the middle, Paine’s made a positive start, edging Bumrah for four. Khawaja almost came undone, edging towards the slips, but it fell well short. Australia 4-138 after 52 overs.

Adrian McMurray 1.20pm: Play underway on day four

The players are back out in the middle, Australia leading by 175 runs. Paine (9) to face Bumrah first up, Khawaja (41) down the other end. Let’s do this!

Adrian McMurray 1.10pm: Harris’ helmet does its job

There was a big scare yesterday when Marcus Harris copped a Bumrah short ball flush on the helmet. Thankfully he was fine, cleared to continue before departing after Tea for 20.

Here’s a look inside that helmet … it did its job.

12.52pm: We knew it was likely, now it’s official

Gideon Haigh 12.45pm: Softly does it as Australia get down to graft

It was an updating, almost a remake, of an old, old story.

These days the cricket umpire on international duty can appear a marginal figure, a mid-level bureaucrat exercising a limited discretion preliminary to the definitive business of technological retrospection and media analysis. Sometimes, the players even seem to be umpiring themselves, unofficial field workers of the Decision Review System.

Indian batsman Virat Kohli leaves the field after being dismissed on day three. Picture: AAP
Indian batsman Virat Kohli leaves the field after being dismissed on day three. Picture: AAP

All the more so yesterday as Virat Kohli outside edged and Peter Handscomb rolled to his right at second slip, and tempered celebrations broke out.

Read more here

Andrew Faulkner 12.37pm: Finch spotted in the nets

Finch has been down in the nets — and reportedly hit them well — this morning so it appears he’ll come out at the fall of the next wicket.

Andrew Faulkner 12.15pm: Finch to return, Test heading for a result

With no rain on or over the WA horizon, with a pitch cracking like the Nullarbor in February, and with two full days to play, the second Test is hurtling towards a result. The Australians will resume on 4-132, leading by 175, with Usman Khawaja on 41 and Tim Paine on nine. According to the Australian camp, Aaron Finch’s banged up finger isn’t broken, so he’ll likely bat at the fall of the next wicket.

Aaron Finch has been cleared of a broken finger and will resume batting at some point today. Picture: Getty Images
Aaron Finch has been cleared of a broken finger and will resume batting at some point today. Picture: Getty Images

Paine will be keen to bat well into the second session, which won’t be easy on a still-fast, but deteriorating, surface. Then it’s Australia versus Virat Kohli, again. Get him, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane and, happy days, the hosts head to Melbourne with the series squared. That’s the way it’s supposed to go, but this classic Test has laughed at the script. More twists and turns await …

12.10pm: Tendulkar’s praise for Lyon

The Little Master has spoken — and decreed that Australian offspinner Nathan Lyon is something special.

Indian great Sachin Tendulkar yesterday lavished praise on Lyon after his five-wicket haul in the Perth Test, which took him into the top 25 all-time Test wicket-takers.

“Australia have got a very special spinner in @NathLyon421,” Tendulkar said on Twitter.

Read more here

Peter Lalor 12.00pm: Australians battered by fiery Indian attack

Australia have the thinnest of advantages in a crackling Test match thanks to a catch that sparked controversy on the subcontinent and another five-wicket haul by spinner Nathan Lyon.

India, however, are pressing and suffocating, their seamers ruffling and bullying batsmen like an old-time West Indies attack.

The skipper Virat Kohli is conducting the crowd and his seamers from the slips cordon. The expatriate community in the stands and the four fast bowlers in the side obeying his every demand.

Read more here

More Coverage

Test in balance in wild west
Andrew Faulkner, Adrian McMurray
Restrictions on pace bowlers failing to reduce injury toll
Andrew Faulkner
Catch that may swing match
Gideon Haigh

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/cricket/australia-v-india-second-test-live-finch-to-return-test-hurtling-towards-result/news-story/e28ceeef4411bc78a1493f6ceb165be3