( MENAFN - IANS) Melbourne, Dec 27 (IANS) Skipper Pat Cummins struck twice to dismiss Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul as India reached 51/2 in 15 overs, trailing Australia by 423 runs at tea on day two of Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne cricket Ground on Friday. After Australia were bowled out for 474 in their first innings, Cummins ensured Australia maintained its control on the match by taking out Rohit cheaply and then dismissing Rahul with a corker of a delivery at the stroke of tea. With Yashasvi Jaiswal looking comfortable in his 23 not out, India will need big scores and partnerships to make 275, the mark they need to avoid a follow-on.
India's innings began on a bad note as Rohit, opening the batting for the first time in the series, played a one-leg half-hearted pull off Cummins, and the top-edge was easily caught by mid-on to be out for three. That dismissal took Rohit's tally of runs to 22 in this series, thus extending his woeful form in Tests this year. From there, Jaiswal showed poise while ramping and driving Cummins for boundaries.
On the other hand, Rahul showed amazing composure, and lit up the session with three eye-catchy boundaries. Just as India looked to close the session on a high, Cummins brought out a jaffa of a delivery - a full ball pitched on off stump and getting to seam past the bat of Rahul to hit the top of off stump and send the batter back 24 off 42 balls, as Australia walked into tea break with high spirits. Previously, Steve Smith top-scored 14.
