AUS vs IND, 5th Test, Day 2: Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna take three-wickets each as India bowl Australia out for 181. India lead by 145 runs at the stumps on Day 2.
Brief Score: IND 185 & 141/6 (Rishabh Pant 61, Yashasvi Jaiswal 22, Scott Boland 4/42) lead AUS 181 (Beau Webster 57, Steven Smith 33, Prasidh Krishna 3/42) by 145 runs.
Day 5 of the fifth Test in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy witnessed riveting action, with 312 runs scored and 15 wickets falling across both teams. Courtesy of a belligerent 33-ball 61 from Rishabh Pant, India hold a lead of 145 runs with four second-innings wickets still in hand.
Talking Point - Bowlers make most of conditions; top-order struggles continue
India’s bowling unit, even without their premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah for most of their effort, made excellent use of the conditions. They managed to make inroads into the Australian middle and lower order, gaining a slender four-run lead.
However, a familiar story unfolded as none of the batters, barring Rishabh Pant, applied themselves. The likes of Rahul, Gill, and Kohli played loose shots, getting out before settling at the crease.
Australia lose their top-5, adding 92 runs
India started the day on a positive note, with their skipper Jasprit Bumrah delivering a beauty to edge out Marnus Labuschagne for two. Sam Konstas adopted an attacking mindset but was caught at gully off a full-length delivery from Mohammed Siraj. The pacer struck again three balls later, claiming the prized wicket of Travis Head, leaving Australia reeling at 38/4.
At this point, India had the upper hand, but Steve Smith, who scored successive tons in the last two games, found a reliable partner in Beau Webster. The duo put together a crucial 57-run stand. However, Prasidh Krishna provided India with a much-needed breakthrough, leaving the hosts at 101/5 heading into lunch.
India bowlers, sans Bumrah, put on inspirational show
Still trailing by 84 runs, India might have hoped to secure a sizable lead, but skipper Jasprit Bumrah returned to the dressing room after bowling just the opening over of the session. He did not return, leaving the visitors with only two frontline pacers.
The pitch appeared to ease out as Beau Webster and Alex Carey added 41 runs in roughly 65 balls. However, Prasidh Krishna once again provided a crucial breakthrough, keeping India in contention with a slender 58-run advantage.
Pat Cummins, who had been a thorn in India's side with his lower-order contributions, looked threatening alongside Webster. But Nitish Reddy turned the game around by dismissing both Cummins and Mitchell Starc in consecutive deliveries. The lead pacers then cleaned up the tail, ensuring India eked out a narrow first-innings lead of four runs.
Australia overcome Rishabh Pant's assault, pick 6 wickets
Yashasvi Jaiswal gave India a blazing start, smashing four boundaries in the very first over. He, along with KL Rahul, looked positive and largely untroubled at the crease.
However, the introduction of Scott Boland into the attack changed the momentum. Boland dismissed both openers in quick succession and followed it up by removing Virat Kohli, who fell in familiar fashion yet again this series.
Amid Rishabh Pant's counter-attacking knock, Shubman Gill played a reckless shot, gifting his wicket away. Pant, however, kept India in the fight, racing to a half-century off just 29 balls. After smashing a couple of sixes off Mitchell Starc, his explosive innings was brought to an end by Pat Cummins at 61. Nitish Reddy fell late in the session, leaving India at 141/6 at stumps, with Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja at the crease.
Read More: BGT 2024-25: India & Australia's bowling attacks separated by 'gulf of returns with old ball'
Statistical Highlights from AUS vs IND, Fifth Test, Day two
Jasprit Bumrah now has the joint-most wickets (32) in a BGT series. Harbhajan Singh also took 32 wickets in BGT 2000-01.
Beau Webster registered a fifty in his debut Test.
Marnus Labuschagne was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah for the third time in Tests.
Travis Head was dismissed by Mohammed Siraj for the fifth time in Tests.
Australia's team total of 181 is their third-lowest against India in Tests played at the iconic SCG.
Virat Kohli was dismissed by Scott Boland for the fifth time in Tests, fourth time in BGT 2024-25.
Rishabh Pant has registered the second-fastest fifty for India in Tests (29 balls). The fastest is also in his name (28-ball fifty against SL in 2022).
Scott Boland has registered his best match figures in Tests (8/73).
What’s next
This Test match has progressed at a rapid pace, setting the stage for what could be the decisive day of this Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India hold a 145-run lead over Australia in their second innings on a pitch that continues to assist the pacers. The visitors will be aiming to extend their lead as much as possible to strengthen their position in the contest.a
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