Ranchi Test ends in a stalemate
The first ever Test played in Ranchi has ended in a draw as India and Australia could not be separated after fifteen sessions of engrossing cricket.
India would have been favourites coming into the final day with the wicket starting to turn and offer assistance for the spinners as well as some variable bounce to aid the likes of Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav.
Matt Renshaw was joined by Steve Smith out in the middle after Nathan Lyon was dismissed in the final over on day four.
Smith and Renshaw were typically combative and the pair would stay together for a little over 20 overs before the latter was trapped leg before by a crafty Sharma.
Sharma set Renshaw (15 off 84 balls) up for the short ball and then got a full ball to jag back a little off the seam, the big left-hander was absolutely plumb.
When Steve Smith (21 off 68 balls) went in the very next over India had their tails up and would have been expecting to run through the Aussie middle-order with ease.
Smith’s dismissal was another instance of the skipper suffering from a massive brain fade. The skipper attempted to pad up to Ravindra Jadeja’s stock delivery which had pitched outside leg but he failed to get his pad onto the ball which turned enough to take out his off stump.
Shaun Marsh was then joined by Peter Handscomb and the pair would display intense grit as they took the sting out of the Indian attack and ground out much of the day batting together for 62.1 overs for their 124 run stand.
India used both reviews during their stand, the first an absolutely shocking call by Kohli with Marsh shouldering arms to a ball that pitched outside leg.
The second instance was a whole lot closer with Umesh Yadav denied the wicket of Handscomb by a matter of inches in a call that would have been upheld either way the umpire called it.
Marsh’s concentration eventually slipped to give Jadeja his fourth wicket of the innings and ninth of the match but by that time the stalemate was all but assured with Australia having built a small lead and time running out. Marsh had made 53 off a massive 197 balls and showed great determination to save the game and keep the series alive.
Glenn Maxwell (2) fell victim to Ravichandran Ashwin after a shot stay at the crease but Matthew Wade and Peter Handscomb (72 not out) held on for long enough and Virat Kohli deigned to shake hands with the batsman and the draw was sealed with Australia ending on 204/6.
Cheteshwar Pujara was named man of the match for his double ton which made the game safe for India but wasn’t enough to secure a win.
Latest
-
News
On this day in 2018: Australian trio banned after ball-tampering saga
The trio were handed their punishments on March 28, 2018.
-
County Cricket
Surrey stars eager to help Alec Stewart sign off with more silverware
Stewart has guided Surrey to three County Championship wins during his decade in charge.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier smashes 91 as England Women seal T20 series victory
England made 177 for three and then restricted New Zealand to 130 for seven.
-
County Cricket
Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early-season availability
Both players are not at the Indian Premier League.
-
England
Ollie Pope ‘itching’ to get back scoring runs after ‘frustrating’ tour of India
The England vice-captain hit a superb 196 in Hyderabad, but averaged only 14.75 in the next four Tests of the India series.
-
Women's Cricket
Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return
Australia will host England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Women’s Ashes early next year.
-
County Cricket
Harry Brook set to return for start of Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign
Brook withdrew from England’s Test tour of India in January due to personal reasons.
-
England
England spinner Tom Hartley expects his exploits in India to be ‘life changing’
Hartley’s second-innings haul of seven for 62 in Hyderabad delivered one England’s greatest ever overseas victories.
-
Women's Cricket
Heather Knight urges more composure from England after New Zealand collapse
The tourists needed just 29 from 29 balls with eight wickets in hand.
-
Australia
On this day in 2018: Australia ‘sandpapergate’ ball-tampering controversy erupts
The incident led to Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft being banned from playing for Australia.