Ravindra Jadeja takes four as India reduce Australia to 174/8

Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne stitched an unbeaten 82-run partnership to help Australia reach 76 for two against India at lunch

Ravindra Jadeja celebrates with teammates the wicket of Australian batter Steven Smith during the 1st test cricket match between India and Australia. Credit: PTI Photo

Come-back man Ravindra Jadeja (4/45) struck four times as India reduced Australia to 174 for eight at tea on day one of the opening Test here on Thursday.

The left-arm spinner, who returned from a knee injury, was the wrecker-in-chief during the second session as he broke the partnership between Steve Smith (37) and Marnus Labuschagne (49) before trapping Matt Renshaw and Todd Murphy.

Alex Carrey scored a 33-ball 36 before veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (2/41), who was the other wicket-taker for India in the second session, ended his stay in the middle.

Earlier, pacers Mohammed Shami (1/12) and Mohammed Siraj (1/13) dealt early blows to the visitors, removing openers Usman Khwaja (1) and David Warner (1) within the first three overs.

Smith and Labuschagne stitched an 82-run partnership for the third wicket.

Brief Scores:

Australia 1st innings: 174 for 8 in 60 overs (Marnus Labuschagne 49, Steve Smith 37; Ravindra Jadeja 4/45 )

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