Murphy shines on debut, but Rohit’s ton puts India on top

AFP - Skipper Rohit Sharma hit a brave 120 on a turningNagpurpitchasIndia extended their lead to 144 despite Australian debutant Todd Murphy’s five wickets intheopeningTest.

India were 321-7 at stumps with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja proving his worthforthesecondstraight day of his international returnwithanunbeaten66.

The 22-year-old Murphy tookregularwicketswithhis off-spin in his attempt to check India’s surge but Jadeja kept up the charge following Rohit’s dismissal soonaftertea.

Jadeja was batting alongside fellow left-hander AxarPatel,whohit52,asthe pairputonanunbeatenstand of81fortheeighthwicket.

Rohit led from the front withhisninthTestcenturyto extend India’s dominance after they dismissed Australiafor177ondayone ofthefour-Testseries.

The captain defied the spinnerstoreachhishundred withaboundaryoffMurphy in the second session, and tookoffhishelmettosoakin theapplause.

He put on a key 61-run sixth-wicket stand with Jadeja, who stood firm after Rohit’s departure to register a fifty after his five wickets intheAustralianinnings.

Jadeja, who has three Test hundreds, did his trademark sword swish with thebattomarkhis18thhalfcentury in the five-day format.

Murphy stood out for t h e t o u r i s t s w i t h remarkable control to knock off the stalwarts of Indian cricket including Virat Kohli, caught behind for12

Murphy, who claimed KL Rahul as his first Test wicket on Thursday, trapped Ravichandran Ashwin lbw and got Cheteshwar Pujara caught at short fine leg in the first session Senior Australia spinnerNathanLyonspoiled Twenty20 sensation

Suryakumar Yadav’s Test debut after he bowled the batsmanoneighttoputIndia inaspotat168-5. But Rohit, who started the day on his overnight 56 and smashed Pat Cummins and Lyon for a six each, and Jadeja soon swung back the momentum with a mix of cautionandaggression.

Cummins took the second new ball after tea to sendbackRohitbowled,one ballafterhewasdroppedby SteveSmithatsecondslip. Murphysoonbaggedhis fifth as he trapped fellow debutant Srikar Bharat lbw — a decision that was given not out by the umpire but successfully reviewed by Australia.

Jadeja, who returned from a knee injury with a 547onThursday,soldieredon with Patel as they frustrated the opposition attack in the finalhourofplay

Axar smashed eight boundaries en route to his secondTestfifty Scores: India 321 for 7 (Rohit120,Jadeja66*,Axar 52*, Murphy 5-82) lead Australia177by144runs.

Play in the Upper Demerara Cricket Association (UDCA) organized T20 men’s competitionbowlsofftoday withthreematches.

The competition has teamsdividedintoGroupA and B and from 9.30am a groupAmatchissetforthe Maria Elizabeth ground where Malali face Coomacka, while over at the Ituni ground, the home team will collide withWest Watooka from 10am in another Group A game Later at 1.00pm there will be another game slated for the Maria Elizabeth ground asYoungAchieverstakeon Royal Champions Eight teams are competing where Group A has Ituni, West Watooka, Coomacka and Malali, as Group B comprisesYariah,Aroiama, YoungAchieversandRoyal Champions. There is one game set for tomorrow as Yariah meet Aroiama from 10 This competition continuesnextweekend.