AUS vs IND, 2nd Test: Australia levels series with breezy win in pink-ball encounter against India
AUS vs IND, 2nd Test: Australia levels series with breezy win in pink-ball encounter against India
It was a Sunday on fast-forward here at the Adelaide Oval. Even if the climax seemed a foregone conclusion, fans merrily trooped in, Bollywood hits wafted in the air and drums were thumped. The temperature was a crisp 22 degrees, and even as the sun lent some warmth, the breeze was bone-chilling.
On the third day, just a mere 16.1 overs were needed as the dregs of defeat stained India’s measured progress so far in its sojourn Down Under. Australia registered an emphatic 10-wicket victory over the visitors in the second Test that concluded with two days to spare. And Pat Cummins and his men drew level at 1-1 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series with three Tests remaining to be played.
Australian openers Nathan McSweeney and Usman Khawaja had a stroll in the park as a minuscule 19 was needed during the host’s second innings. When the duo walked out, the giant-screen lapsed into dry humour: Australia needs 19 runs, India needs 10 wickets.
Jasprit Bumrah kept it tight during the opening over, Mohammed Siraj, running into boos from the crowd, yielded a few runs, and Nitish Reddy found McSweeney picking his spots on the off-side for fours. In the fourth over, the winning runs were secured and the stage is now set for the third Test at Brisbane’s Gabba from December 14.
In the afternoon, India resumed its second innings at 128 for five. Rishabh Pant, a buccaneering pirate on Saturday, played the monk dabbling in patience on Sunday. He didn’t last for long and in the day’s very first over Mitchell Starc drew the edge and Steve Smith was at work in the slips.
Nitish Kumar, a revelation so far in this series, whipped a four off Cummins and edged Starc past the ropes, while interest was centred on whether India would make Australia bat again. R. Ashwin hung briefly before Cummins employed the short-ball tactic with fielders placed for the awkward fend, ambitious hook and the cheeky slash.
The Australian skipper scalped Ashwin but Nitish dabbled in small mercies, clouting a four off Scott Boland as India wiped out the 157-run first-innings deficit. Harshit Rana and Nitish (42) were soon consumed by the bouncer tactics employed by the opposition.
It was time for Siraj to appear. A subject of the crowd’s ire ever since he and Travis Head were locked in some unsavoury words in the earlier part of this game, the Hyderabadi took the hostile reception on his chin. He hit a four off Boland and then found Head waiting for the catch!
India bundled out for 175 in the second dig and Australia having all the time in the world to seize the game while up above, planes glided into the nearby airport. Australia soaring, India grounded, the series is truly alive and it is time to fasten your seat belts.
