×
×
India added only 47 runs to their overnight score as Australia wrapped up the match in less than four overs with the bat. Australia, scoring 337 in their first innings (Head 140, Labuschagne 64, Bumrah 4-61, Siraj 4-98), and 19 for 0, defeated India, who were bowled out for 180 (Reddy 42, Starc 6-48, Cummins […]
India added only 47 runs to their overnight score as Australia wrapped up the match in less than four overs with the bat. Australia, scoring 337 in their first innings (Head 140, Labuschagne 64, Bumrah 4-61, Siraj 4-98), and 19 for 0, defeated India, who were bowled out for 180 (Reddy 42, Starc 6-48, Cummins 2-41) and 175 (Reddy 42, Cummins 5-57, Boland 3-51), by ten wickets.
Pat Cummins’ five-wicket haul underscored Australia’s commanding performance in the pink-ball Test at the Adelaide Oval, leveling the series with a decisive win on the third afternoon. The final blow came when Mitchell Starc struck in the first over of the day, delivering a perfectly pitched ball that had Rishabh Pant nick behind for his overnight 28. India collapsed to 175 just over an hour into the first session. Chasing a modest target of 19, Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney efficiently knocked off the runs in under four overs before the break.
India faced the threat of an innings defeat as Cummins unleashed a barrage of short deliveries. R Ashwin, Harshit Rana, and Nitish Kumar Reddy all succumbed to the relentless bounce from the Australian captain. The Adelaide crowd roared with delight when Travis Head, their hero, took a spectacular tumbling catch to dismiss No. 11 Mohammed Siraj, who had become infamous for giving Head a send-off on day two.
Read the newest blogs available at IPLbookmakers.
Australia didn’t need Travis Head with the bat in their second innings as Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney completed the chase to seal the victory. The heavy 295-run defeat in Perth had sparked intense commentary and surprised some players, but their near-perfect response in Adelaide restored balance to the series and set up an exciting contest for the remaining matches.
Pat Cummins, who had struggled in the first Test, was back to his best. After beating Rohit Sharma’s off-stump with the pink ball under lights on Saturday, he adjusted his lengths with the older ball in daylight, which lacked swing and seam movement. Cummins dismissed R Ashwin with a catch behind and had Harshit Rana top-edging a bouncer to gully.
Nitish Kumar Reddy showed resilience, pulling a bouncer over square leg for six, despite two fielders stationed on the boundary. However, Cummins responded by angling one across him from around the wicket, and Reddy edged it straight to fine third. Reddy’s 42 off 47 balls was significant, marking the third time in four innings he had been India’s top scorer in his debut Test series. The match was completed in just 81 overs across both innings, making it the shortest pink-ball Test in Australia and the shortest between the two sides.
The crowd of 33,184 at Adelaide Oval had plenty to celebrate, cheering as McSweeney struck a couple of boundaries in the final chase and their local hero, Travis Head, claimed the Player-of-the-Match award.
Queensland secured their first win of the Sheffield Shield season with standout bowling performances from Mitch Swepson and Mark Steketee. Legspinner Mitchell Swepson enhanced his chances of being selected for Australia’s upcoming Test tour of Sri Lanka by producing a match-winning display. His impressive spell was pivotal in Queensland’s narrow 23-run victory over Victoria at the MCG.
Chasing 273 for victory, Victoria were dismissed for 249 late on day three, despite a determined 78 off 139 balls by Peter Handscomb. Mitchell Swepson was the standout performer on Sunday, taking 4 for 88 from 30 overs to halt Victoria’s run chase. Mark Steketee then wrapped up the win, claiming the last two wickets to finish with figures of 3-46.
With Australia planning to take multiple spinners for their two-Test tour of Sri Lanka in January and February, Swepson’s timely performance bolstered his selection prospects. His deliveries were spinning sharply on the turning pitch, prompting one spectator to shout, “Is that Shane Warne?” after a particularly impressive ball.
Queensland resumed play on day three at 195 for 8, holding a lead of 244. The Bulls added 28 runs before being bowled out for 223, with Steketee contributing 53 but only managing five more runs from his overnight score.
Victoria’s chase got off to a poor start as star opener Marcus Harris was dismissed for a two-ball duck, bowled by Tom Straker. The situation worsened when Jonathan Merlo edged a delivery from Mark Steketee behind, leaving Victoria at 26 for 2.
Campbell Kellaway (30) tried to stabilize the innings but was clean bowled by a sharply turning delivery from Mitchell Swepson. Swepson struck again, removing Tom Rogers for 14, and when Sam Harper fell to Jack Wildermuth, Victoria were in trouble at 115 for 5.
Swepson continued his impressive spell, bowling Mitchell Perry to further dent Victoria’s chances. The home side’s hopes dimmed when Swepson found an edge from Peter Handscomb, leaving them at 183 for 7. However, there were more twists as Sam Elliott (30), Xavier Crone (28), and Fergus O’Neill (13) mounted a brave fight, pushing the score to 246 for 8 and reducing the target to 27 runs with two wickets remaining.
Steketee struck the decisive blows, first having O’Neill caught at gully and then trapping Crone plumb in front shortly after. His efforts sealed victory for Queensland, prompting wild celebrations. Steketee was named man of the match for his all-round performance, scoring 44 not out and 53, alongside his bowling figures of 3 for 32 and 3 for 46.
Read More: Peirson and Bartlett Propel Queensland Towards First Shield Win