Finance
Skipper Pat Cummins used short balls effectively, taking 5-57 in 14 overs to help Australia secure a dominant ten-wicket victory over India on day three of the second Test at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday. The outcome also means that Australia has tied the five-match series 1-1.
Resuming at 128/5, India could only score 47 runs before Australia quickly ended their second innings in 36.5 overs, with Nitish Kumar Reddy topping the charts with 42.
Cummins led solidly from the front to earn his second five-wicket haul against India in Tests, while Scott Boland picked up three scalps and Mitchell Starc grabbed two, as India set Australia a goal of just 19.
Openers Nathan McSweeney and Usman Khawaja were undefeated on 10 and nine, respectively, as Australia completed the chase in just 3.2 overs to cap a dramatic comeback with a resounding victory in Adelaide after losing by 295 runs in Perth. It also guarantees Australia will keep its perfect record of winning day-night Tests in Adelaide.
India’s chances of getting out of difficulties were dashed on day three when Starc delivered a full ball that just straightened off the seam and took Rishabh Pant’s outside edge to second slip, dismissing him for 28. Cummins’ bouncer plan paid off as he found the glove edge of Ravichandran Ashwin’s attempted hook and was easily caught behind by Alex Carey.
Even though Reddy looked solid in defence, Cummins’ bouncer strategy paid off again when he prised out the shoulder edge of a tangled Harshit Rana and was caught comfortably by Gully, barely an over after Starc hit him on the skull with a pacy lifter.
India took a narrow lead when Reddy smashed Scott Boland over long-on for a one-bounce four and hooked Cummins’ bumper over backward square leg for six. But Cummins had the final laugh as Reddy arched back to ramp over slips but was grabbed by the third man.
Boland finished India’s innings with a mistimed delivery from Mohammed Siraj to Travis Head at midwicket, who backpedaled and tumbled on his back to collect the catch. With Australia taking the winning honours over India in Adelaide, both teams have now got two more days of rest before meeting in the third game at The Gabba in Brisbane on December 14.
Brief Scores: India 180 and 175 in 36.5 overs (Nitish Kumar Reddy 42, Rishabh Pant 28; Pat Cummins 5-57, Scott Boland 3-51) lost to Australia 337 and 19/0 in 3.2 overs by 10 wickets
Source: IANS
