2nd Test: Australia post 163/5 at tea

Bengaluru, March 5 (CRICKETNMORE): Australia posted 163/5 in the first innings at tea on the second day of their second cricket Test against India at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Sunday. Morris, Shamsi among five new cricketers to bag Cricket South Africa contracts

For Australia, Shaun Marsh was batting on 38 when the teams went into the break. The visitors now trail India's first innings total of 189 by 26 runs.

Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja was the most successful among the Indian bowlers with figures of 3/32. Fast bowler Ishant Sharma and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin returned with 1/25 and 1/61 respectively.

Fast bowler Umesh Yadav, who was impressive during the morning session, could not, however, bag a wicket.

Starting the day at the overnight score of 40 for no loss, Australia struggled to score runs in the morning session.

The visitors suffered their first blow early on when Ashwin landed a delivery right into the rough just outside David Warner's leg stump.

The ball spun viciously and went on to crash into the off stump. Warner was completely outfoxed and could only manage a feeble attempt to block the ball on the backfoot.

Australia captain Steve Smith joined Renshaw in the middle and the duo struggled for runs as the Indians bowled superbly.

Umesh produced a longish spell of eight overs, bowling with pace, swing and movement off the pitch which both Australian batsmen found difficult to deal with.

however, Smith and Renshaw did well to defend stoutly and looked to have done enough to pull through to the lunch without losing another wicket when the former was stumpted off Jadeja's bowling a short while before the break.

Smith faced 52 deliveries for his eight runs. 

The first session saw the visitors score just 47 runs in 29 overs.

The visitors continued to struggle for runs after lunch even as Renshaw and Shaun Marsh produced a 52-run partnership.

Renshaw was dismissed a short while after completing his half-century when he was stumped off Jadeja's bowling.

Renshaw faced 196 balls for his 60 runs which included five boundaries and a six.

Peter Handscomb joined Marsh in the middle and the duo added just 26 runs between them before the former was caught by Ashwin at midwicket off Jadeja's bowling.

Sharma then trapped Mitchell Marsh leg before with the last ball before tea to round off an excellent session for the hosts. 

Brief scores:

Australia (First Innings): 163/5 (Matt Renshaw 60, Shaun Marsh 38 batting; Ravindra Jadeja 3/32) vs India (First Innings): 189.