Australian skipper Tim Paine on Sunday became the fastest wicketkeeper to reach 150 Test match dismissals when he contributed to Rishabh Pant’s fall. Paine 36, beat South Africa’s Quinton de Kock (34 innings) and Adam Gilchrist (36 innings) to achieve the feat in 33 innings.

Tim Paine, who wore his first baggy green in 2010, has been leading Australia since 2017. The wicketkeeper-batsman has so far affected three dismissals in the ongoing test match at Melbourne, his catch to dismiss Cheteshwar Pujara standing out.

After No 1 Test bowler Pat Cummins issued a send-off for debutant Shubman Gill (45 off 65 balls), Paine continued to employ the pacer’s services. It was the fourth delivery of the 27th over that angled into Pujara, and the stalwart batting at 17 off 69 balls could manage only a thick edge. The ball flew towards the first slip but just before it could touch any other hand, Paine had already intervened with a one-handed blinder, diving towards his right.

Earlier, the Australian side folded at 195 on boxing day owing to lethal spells by Jasprit Bumrah (4/56) and Ravichandran Ashwin (3/35). Marnus Labuschagne top-scored for the home team with 48 runs coming in 132 deliveries. India started their first innings in the fourth session and lost the first wicket owing to some tight bowling by Mitchell Starc in the first over. The visitors started Day 2 of the second test match at 36/1.

Paine, who scored a mere 13 runs in the first innings of the second test match was the player of the match in the opening test. He scored an unbeaten 73 in the first innings to take Australia to 191. His 150 test dismissals have come quicker than the likes of Adam Gilchrist, Mark Boucher and Quinton De Kock. The Australians lead the Border-Gavaskar trophy 1-0.