NEW DELHI: India’s Virat Kohli yesterday became the first international captain to hit six Test double centuries after he cracked a career-best 243 against Sri Lanka in New Delhi.
Kohli, 29, recorded his second successive double ton in the Third Test of the three-match series to go past West Indies great Brian Lara, who had five scored off 200 or more as captain.
In-form Kohli, fresh from his 213 in India’s thrashing of Sri Lanka in the second Test in Nagpur, achieved the feat in the first session of day two after he pulled paceman Suranga Lakmal for a couple of runs.
The Delhi-born star, as he smashed battling a back problem, batted for more than seven hours from day one as smashed 25 boundaries in his 287-ball stay at the crease.
He was finally trapped lbw by left-arm wrist spinner Lakshan Sandakan in the afternoon sesison but not after surpassing his previous Test best of 235 against England.
Nicknamed King Kohli, the prolific run-getter has also scored double tons against the West Indies, New Zealand, England and Bangaldesh — and all have come as captain since early in 2016.
He joined batting greats Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag in India’s list of most double hundreds by batsmen in Tests.
Kohli sets new mark for double centuries
Kohli sets new mark for double centuries
Archer dismisses Australian tailenders for a 5-wicket haul to keep England in the Ashes contest
ADELAIDE, Australia: Jofra Archer dismissed Mitchell Starc for a well-made 54 and No. 11 Nathan Lyon to restrict Australia to 371 on Thursday and complete a five-wicket haul to keep England in the Ashes contest.
Archer picked up the first wicket of the third test, two more in the first over after lunch later Wednesday and the last two on Day 2 after Australia resumed at 322 for eight.
Starc made it back-to-back half centuries to continue his run of form that has earned him player-of-the-match honors in Australia’s opening eight-wicket wins in Perth and Brisbane.
He was unbeaten on 33 overnight and quickly raced to his half-century, plundering four boundaries in the first 10 deliveries of the morning: two slashing cuts in the first over from Archer and two more to wayward deliveries from Brydon Carse.
Starc reached 50 with a single, hit the first ball of Archer’s next over to the boundary but then the England paceman bowled him with a delivery that angled in from around the stumps.
The last-wicket pair added 23 runs before Archer trapped Lyon lbw, leaving Scott Boland unbeaten on 14 from 21 deliveries.
Archer returned 5-53 from 20.2 overs for his fourth five-wicket haul in test cricket, and third in the Ashes.
Victory a must by England
England needs a victory in Adelaide to have any chance of reclaiming the Ashes in this five-test series. A good batting performance in hot conditions on Thursday will help the cause, particularly with the Australians in the field and the temperature forecast to get close to 40C on Day 2.
On Wednesday, Alex Carey posted a hometown hundred and Usman Khawaja scored 82 after he was recalled at the last minute to replace Steve Smith on the eve of his 39th birthday.
Carey’s 106 was slightly contentious after he survived a review for caught behind when he was on 72. England reviewed the initial not out decision but Carey survived as decision review technology showed a noise spike before the ball had reached his bat.
The technology’s operators, BBG, later conceded after play ended that an operator error was most likely.
“Given that Alex Carey admitted he had hit the ball in question, the only conclusion that can be drawn from this, is that the Snicko operator at the time must have selected the incorrect stump mic for audio processing,” BBG founder Warren Brennan said in a statement.
Before play on Day 2, the ICC match referee restored one review to England because of the error.
