Scott Boland strikes again, India lead 6 against Australia

Scott Boland strikes again, India lead 6 against Australia
Scott Boland strikes again, India lead 6 against Australia
India vs Australia 5th Test Day 2 Live Score: Beau Webster hit a difficult half-century on debut on Saturday, but Australia collapsed against an Indian side missing Jasprit Bumrah to be all out for 181 at tea on the second day of the decisive fifth Test, led by four runs.

The hosts’ task in the second session should have been easier with Bumrah off the field and seen leaving the Sydney Cricket Ground, perhaps heading for a hospital scan.

But Prasidh Krishna (3-42), Mohammed Siraj (3-51) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (2-32) all stepped up to fill the void.

Australia lost Sam Konstas (23), Marnus Labuschagne (two), Travis Head (four) and Steve Smith (33) before lunch during Siraj and Bumrah’s fiery bouts.

In front of his home crowd, Smith looked set to become only the 15th batsman in history and the fourth Australian to reach 10,000 Test runs.

But he will have to wait for another day after Prasidh took the lead and KL Rahul took the lead in the slips.

While Webster dug in during the second session to top score with 57, the supporting cast failed to fire, leaving the match well balanced.

Australia will regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since 2014-15 in the event of a win or draw. India retains it with a victory.

The home side recovered at 9-1 after a dramatic final wicket on Friday when Bumrah – captaining the side after Rohit Sharma’s dismissal – had Usman Khawaja caught at the slips.

That Australian body blow came two balls after Bumrah and Konstas had a tense exchange, with the pace spearhead staring at the teenager after the dismissal.

Konstas, 19, completed his seven again with his new partner Labuschagne and started with two strikes off Siraj’s first ball.

But Labuschagne didn’t last with Bumrah once again threatening the destroyer, drawing the slightest outside edge to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.

A fearless Konstas slammed his nemesis Bumrah against the boundary to signal an attacking intent, then produced a daring reverse ramp shot for four more.

But the teenager overplayed his hand and fell to an outswinger from Siraj, attempting a drive that flew towards Yashasvi Jaiswal at gully.

Head hit a four, but Siraj pounced again at the same time with another gem of a delivery that took the edge off Rahul at slip, leaving Australia reeling at 39-4.

Smith and Webster, who were part of the squad for dropped Mitchell Marsh, began rebuilding the innings before Prasidh dealt them another setback by removing the veteran just before lunch.

Prasidh, playing his first match of the series in place of the injured Akash Deep, got another breakthrough soon after their return, bowling to Alex Carey.

India then took 4-3, with Reddy leading, before Siraj bowled Scott Boland to end the innings.

-

-

PREV Amateur football: “Kirikou”, “kahlouche”, “dirty monkey”… A district match sparks controversy against a backdrop of racist insults
NEXT FACT OF THE DAY The 30 personalities who will make the news in 2025