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Usman Khawaja was dismissed close by of one other century as KL Rahul pulled off a spectacular catch within the second Take a look at between Australia and India.
Up till that time, the Aussie opener had been strong in his 81 and way more constructive than he had been in Nagpur.
Khawaja was constructing a strong partnership with Peter Handscomb when he smoked a reverse sweep by means of level that was a assured 4, however someway Rahul – at full stretch – bought a mitt to it and it caught, to offer Ravindra Jadeja his first wicket of the match.
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Khawaja stood for a second in disbelief earlier than trudging off the bottom.
“That’s an absolute blinder – that is come out of nowhere,” Ravi Shastri mentioned in commentary.
Mark Waugh mentioned these sorts of catches modified matches.
“That’s an absolute game-changer that one, that is an important catch … a reflex catch,” he advised.
“It was hit actually firmly by Usman Khawaja. He is bought it proper out of the center, it is beginning to tail away from Rahul, one-handed, that is a magnificence. Caught it behind him.
“That is the type of catch that may change the sport.
“Simply once we thought Australia was wrestling away India’s dominance, what a approach to get it again. Khawaja will take into account himself very unfortunate there.”
Khawaja and Handscomb steadied the Aussie innings at an important second within the Take a look at.
Having earlier placed on 50 for the primary wicket, Australia misplaced Warner for 15, then Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith back-to-back.
Travis Head regarded set to go large in his return to the facet, earlier than he too fell for 12, which introduced Handscomb to the crease with the rating languishing at 4-108.
However Khawaja and Handscomb bought caught in and added 59 when Khawaja was caught.
Talking after stumps, Khawaja mentioned his recreation plan for this innings was the identical one from Nagpur.
“I bought to bat for just a little bit longer. right this moment, it was simply good,” he mentioned.
“The sport plan [has] been fairly regular for me over the past 12 months and a half within the sub continents … happily I may rating some runs right this moment.”
Khawaja additionally praised Handscomb’s defence, which he believes was key to his innings.
“Petey’s bought an attractive defence. I feel that is what folks do not realise … he will get out and reaches out and it makes the bowler change what they’re making an attempt to do.
“He batted superbly right this moment.”
Khawaja mentioned the Australian dressing room was uncertain how the rating would maintain up, and mentioned estimating par in Delhi was troublesome.
“You suppose, ‘What’s an excellent rating on this wicket?’, and also you really do not know till the opposite staff bats’.
“If we bowl nicely, 260 is de facto aggressive.”
On the final Take a look at between the 2 sides on the venue in 2013, India transformed a 10-run first innings result in win by six wickets.
Australia was bowled out for 262 early on day two. In reply, seven wickets to Nathan Lyon noticed the hosts bowled out for 272, earlier than proscribing Australia to only 164 within the second innings.
Peter Siddle made 50s in each innings batting at No.10. Solely Warner, Smith and Lyon stay from the Aussie facet in that Take a look at.
Khawaja mentioned the pitch was already beginning to play up. Within the final over, a inventory Lyon ball bamboozled Rohit Sharma when it barely bounced greater than his ankles after pitching on a size.
“It isn’t straightforward on the market, there’s a couple of cracks, a couple of plates transferring even once we had been on the market,” Khawaja mentioned.
“It’s going to be attention-grabbing to see … I feel tomorrow will inform the story of the place this recreation goes.”
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