Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21, 4th Test: Rain forces early stumps on Day 2, India trails by 307 runs

On Saturday, India and Australia had mixed luck on Day 2 of the final Test for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, at The Gabba in Brisbane. While India is still 307 runs behind in the first innings, persistent rains forced early stumps.

On Day 1, Australia elected to bat first, as Labuschagne was the star, scoring his fifth Test century. Nonetheless, the Indians did manage to scalp five, as the host finished the day on 274.

Resuming at the overnight score, it was the pair of Cameron Green and Paine, who looked to be in control. Nonetheless, at 311, Paine fell right after scoring his ninth Test half-century, to pacer Shardul Thakur, after edging it to Rohit Sharma at the slips.

A couple of runs later, it was followed by Green, who fell for 37, to debutant spinner, Washinton Sundar, who bowled him up. Further two runs later, he was followed by Pat Cummins, trapped leg-before by Thakur for a mere couple.

Although the pair of Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon provided a cameo of 39 runs, it could not last long, as Sundar cleaned up the latter for 24. At the score of 369, Josh Hazlewood was the final man to fall, for 11, after being bowled up by debutant pacer, T Natarajan, as the lunch break was called in.

The Indians are already without pacer Navdeep Saini, who injured his groin on Friday. Meanwhile, among the other five bowlers utilised, Thakur and Sundar have made the most impact, claiming three wickets, each.

As India began its innings at the post-lunch session, it was off to a nervy start, losing young opener Shubman Gill for mere seven, as pacer Pat Cummins forced him to edge to Steve Smith at the slips. It was then the pair of Rohit and Cheteshwar Pujara, who contributed to a 49-run stand for the second wicket.

At the score of 60, Rohit fell for 44, in an attempt to go for an ambitious shot against veteran spinner Nathan Lyon, as he was caught by Mitchell Starc, at the mid-wicket. As skipper Ajinkya Rahane has walked in, along with Pujara, he has a task at hand, as the tea break was called in, two runs later.

Cummins and Lyon have been successful among Australians, so far, while five bowlers have been utilised. At the same time, dark clouds began to accumulate over the venue, as rain stepped in.

Meanwhile, the play did not resume in the post-tea session, as persistent rains washed out the entire concourse. Furthermore, there would be a 30-minute early start on Day 3 (Sunday).
Brief scores: 369 (Labuschagne 108, Paine 50; Thakur 3/94, Sundar 3/89, Natarajan 3/78) leads India 62/2 (Rohit 44; Lyon 1/10) by 307 runs.