India vs Australia 5th Test Day 2 saw intense cricketing action as India overcame the absence of Jasprit Bumrah to bowl Australia out for 181 by tea. Despite a gritty debut half-century from Beau Webster, Australia trails India by four runs, setting up a nail-biting contest for the decisive Test.
Key Moments of Day 2:
- Bumrah’s Absence Felt:
- India faced a setback as Jasprit Bumrah, leading the side in place of Rohit Sharma, left the Sydney Cricket Ground, reportedly for hospital scans.
- Despite his absence, the bowling unit stepped up brilliantly.
- Indian Bowlers Shine:
- Prasidh Krishna: 3-42, including the crucial wicket of Steve Smith.
- Mohammed Siraj: 3-51, continuing his fiery spell from Day 1.
- Nitish Kumar Reddy: 2-32, delivering key breakthroughs late in the innings.
- Australia Crumbles Under Pressure:
- Resuming at 9-1, Australia lost early wickets as Sam Konstas (23), Marnus Labuschagne (2), and Travis Head (4) fell cheaply.
- Steve Smith’s promising innings of 33 ended just as he neared a historic milestone of 10,000 Test runs.
- Beau Webster’s fighting 57 held the innings together, but lack of support from the middle and lower order left Australia struggling.
Session Highlights:
- Morning Session:
- Australia’s woes began early with Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah (before his departure) dismantling the top order.
- Prasidh Krishna dismissed Steve Smith, with KL Rahul taking a sharp catch in the slips, keeping India in the game.
- Afternoon Session:
- Beau Webster showcased his resilience, hitting a determined half-century.
- However, India’s bowlers tightened their grip, with Reddy’s double strike and Siraj cleaning up Scott Boland to end the innings.
Match Situation:
- India leads by 4 runs after dismissing Australia for 181.
- The Border-Gavaskar Trophy hangs in the balance:
- Australia: Will reclaim the trophy with a win or draw.
- India: Needs a win to retain the trophy.
Day 1 Recap:
- India struck early on Day 1 with Bumrah dismissing Usman Khawaja in dramatic fashion, setting the tone for the Test.
- Bumrah’s fiery exchange with 19-year-old Konstas provided the drama of the day, with the teenager playing a few audacious strokes before falling to Siraj.
What’s Next?
The match remains finely poised, with both teams fighting for dominance. Can India capitalize on their slender lead, or will Australia mount a comeback to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy?
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