Australia roared back to form with a commanding 10-wicket win over India in the pink-ball Test at the Adelaide Oval. Pat Cummins led the charge with a stunning five-wicket haul, dismantling India’s batting order and leveling the series 1-1.
The match ended on Day 3, with Australia chasing down a small target of 19 runs in less than four overs. It was a day to remember for the Australian captain and his team, as they bounced back after a heavy defeat in the previous Test.
Match Summary
Australia’s Innings
- 1st Innings: 337 (Travis Head 140, Marnus Labuschagne 64)
- 2nd Innings: 19/0 (Usman Khawaja 11*, Nathan McSweeney 8*)
India’s Innings
- 1st Innings: 180 (Nitish Reddy 42, Mitchell Starc 6-48)
- 2nd Innings: 175 (Nitish Reddy 42, Pat Cummins 5-57, Scott Boland 3-51)
Result: Australia won by 10 wickets.
How Pat Cummins Dismantled India
Pat Cummins, Australia’s captain, was at his lethal best, bouncing out Indian batters with sharp bouncers and precise line-and-length bowling. After struggling for form in the first Test, Cummins silenced his critics with a match-winning spell.
1st Innings
- 2 Wickets: Cummins dismissed India’s skipper Rohit Sharma, setting the tone for the rest of the match.
2nd Innings
- 5 Wickets: Cummins was unstoppable, claiming the key wickets of Ravichandran Ashwin, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and two tailenders. His clever use of the short ball left India’s lower order clueless.
Star Performers
🏏 Pat Cummins
- Match Figures: 7 wickets (2/41 in 1st innings, 5/57 in 2nd innings)
- Bowling Style: Used short balls to trouble India’s lower order, forcing them into errors.
🏏 Mitchell Starc
- 1st Innings: 6/48 — A brilliant opening spell that wrecked India’s top order.
🏏 Travis Head
- Batting: Scored 140 runs, playing a match-defining knock.
- Fielding: Pulled off a brilliant catch to dismiss India’s Mohammed Siraj, adding to the crowd’s excitement.
Key Moments of the Match
1️⃣ India’s Early Collapse: India’s first-innings collapse (180 all out) was triggered by Mitchell Starc, who picked up 6 wickets.
2️⃣ Cummins’ Short-Ball Assault: In the second innings, Cummins’ short balls accounted for multiple dismissals, including Harshit Rana and R Ashwin.
3️⃣ Reddy’s Fighting Knock: Nitish Kumar Reddy fought hard with scores of 42 in both innings, but it wasn’t enough to save India from defeat.
4️⃣ Australia’s Dominance: Australia chased the 19-run target without losing a wicket, with Khawaja and McSweeney finishing things off quickly.
What’s Next?
With the series now tied 1-1, the pressure is on both teams to deliver in the upcoming Tests. Australia will be brimming with confidence, while India will be looking to fix their batting issues. The next Test promises to be a thriller as the rivalry between these two cricket giants continues.
Final Thoughts
Pat Cummins’ fiery five-wicket haul will be remembered as one of the defining moments of the series. With Australia now back in the fight, the cricket world eagerly awaits the next Test in this high-stakes series.
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