After Cheteshwar Pujara’s day one century, the Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant extended that Indian innings with another big century on the day two of the Sydney Test.
Starting the day on the overnight score of 303/4, India lost Hanuma Vihari (42 runs) in the very first hour of the day. Prior to that wicket, Cheteshwar Pujara and Vihari had a 101-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Also watch: Hanuma Vihari’s Controversial Dismissal By The Third Umpire
After that, Pujara had an 89-run partnership with Pant for the sixth wicket. The right-handed Test specialist batsman Pujara just missed his fourth double-century in Test career as he was dismissed on 193 runs off 373 balls (22 fours).
As a 4-yr-old Cheteshwar Pujara was playing with a rubber ball and a toy bat.His family took photo of that moment.His father Arvind later noticed how his son was watching the ball closely & thought he could learn cricket. His wife Reena said: “You must teach him then.”#AUSvIND
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) January 4, 2019
Chitt ke Ishwar, another name for Lord Shiva – Cheteshwar Pujara.
Destroyed Australia’s chances in the series, most number of balls batted by an Indian in a series against Australia. Outstanding 193, memorable knock pic.twitter.com/jEcTWhs7kQ— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) January 4, 2019
Test match batting at its best by Pujara. @cheteshwar1 has been the difference between the 2 teams for me. To be able to bat for such long periods of time is a testament to his concentration and understanding of the game. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/7GJmJieOAk
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) January 4, 2019
Also read: Rishabh Pant Breaks Plethora Of Records In Sydney Test
On the other hand, Pant dominated over the tired Australian bowlers and Ravindra Jadeja joined him at next. Both had a brilliant 204-run partnership for the seventh wicket and it helped the visiting side to post a mammoth 600+ total in the first innings.
While Jadeja was dismissed on 81 off 114 balls (7 fours and only six), Pant remained unbeaten on 159 off 189 balls (15 fours and only six) as India declared that innings on 622/7. After completing his marvellous second Test century in 137 balls, Pant became the first Indian as well as the first Asian batsman to score a Test century in Australia.
Top innings by @RishabPant777. His talent is undoubted but have enjoyed his composure and the manner in which he has built his innings. Still got there in 137 balls! In a couple of years, he will be India's no 6.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 4, 2019
Pantastic ! Wonderful 100 from @RishabPant777 , 2nd overseas century and now the 2nd highest run getter in the series after Pujara. Yeah Baby! Sitter pic.twitter.com/k8HNvJjFMm
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) January 4, 2019
After Pujara’s brilliant 193, Rishabh Pant has assured that India put the game firmly out of Australia’s grip. Very impressed by his temperament today and congratulations to him on his 2nd overseas 100, 1 in Eng and now 1 in Aus, only the 2nd wk after Jeff Dujjon to do so pic.twitter.com/uSg60n98nb
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) January 4, 2019
Also watch: Bharat Army Dedicates A Song To Rishabh Pant
Among the Australian bowlers, the off-spinner Nathan Lyon bagged four wickets as but he finished with the bowling figure of 57.2-8-178-4. Also, Josh Hazlewood (2/105) and Mitchell Starc (1/123) picked up two and one wickets respectively.
In reply, Australia ended the day two on 24/0. Both the openers Marcus Harris and Usman Khawaja remained unbeaten on 19 and 5 runs respectively.
Some important stats of day 2 of Sydney Test between Australia and India
- Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara scored 193 runs. It is the fifth highest Test innings knock by an Indian batsman on the Australian soil. Also, it was the third highest Test innings knock by an Indian batsman at Sydney Cricket Ground.
- Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant scored an unbeaten 159 runs. First Test century by an Asian batsman on the Australian soil.
- It was the highest Test innings knock by an Indian wicketkeeper-batsman at the away venues. The previous best was 148 by MS Dhoni against Pakistan at Faisalabad in 2006.
- Also, it was the second highest Test innings knock by a visiting wicketkeeper-batsman on the Australian soil. The record holder is AB de Villiers (South Africa) during the 2012 Perth Test.
- Indian batsmen Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja had a 204-run partnership for the seventh wicket. It is India’s second largest seventh-wicket partnership in a Test innings outside the home soil. The record is 217 runs partnership between VVS Laxman and Ajay Ratra against West Indies at St. John’s in 2002.
- India scored 622/7 decl. in their first innings of this Test match. India’s second highest Test innings total. The record is 705/7 decl. at Sydney in 2004.
- Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon finished the first innings with the bowling figure of 57.2-8-178-4. The second most expensive bowling in an innings by an Australian bowler against India on the Australian soil. The record is conceding 201 runs by Brett Lee (39.3-5-201-4) in 2004 Sydney Test. Also, it was the fifth most expensive bowling in an innings by an Australian spinner on their home soil.
