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208-Run Stand Between Khawaja And Green Second-Best Partnership For Australia In India


image-lf2l76qqKhawaja-Green (Source: AP Newsroom)

Australia’s Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green snatched away momentum from India in the on-going fourth Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy in Ahmedabad, having posted 208 runs partnership in the first innings. This is now the second-best partnership for Australia in India after the 222 runs posted by Allan Border and Kim Hughes in 1979.

Khawaja scored his maiden Test hundred against India to take Australia to 255/4 at the end of Day 1, before being dismissed during the third session of Day 2 by Axar Patel. His 180 is also the third-highest score by an Australian in India. Cameron Green, who also brought up a maiden century, scored 114 off 170 deliveries laced with 18 fours.

Australia posted 480 in the first innings. Apart from Khawaja and Green, the other contributions came from Travis Head (32), Steve Smith (38), Nathan Lyon (34) and Todd Murphy (41). At stumps on day 2, India trail by 444 runs, with openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill unbeaten on 17 and 18, respectively. Earlier in the game, Australia had won the toss and opted to bat first.

“There was a lot of emotion in that. I’ve been to India two tours before this, and I carried the drinks for all eight Test matches. It was a long journey. To finally get a hundred in India, as an Australian, that’s what you want to do, it’s what you want to tick off, so it’s very special.”

Led by Steve Smith in the absence of Pat Cummins, Australia booked a berth in the final of the World Test Championship when they defeated India by nine wickets in Indore last week.

 India, on the other hand, still need a win to secure a direct qualification to the final of the WTC. In case they lose the Ahmedabad Test, India will have to hope for New Zealand to avoid a 0-2 clean-sweep against Sri Lanka.