Sydney, Jan 5 (NationPress) Seamer Scott Boland delivered an impressive performance with figures of 6-45, placing Australia just 162 runs away from winning the fifth Test and securing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade after dismissing India for 157 on day three at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.
Starting their innings at 141/6, India could only manage an additional 16 runs before their second innings concluded in 39.5 overs within the first hour of day three. The pitch offered considerable assistance and movement for seamers, allowing both Boland and Pat Cummins to secure two wickets each in a disciplined bowling display that swiftly ended India’s innings, setting up a thrilling conclusion to the series.
Boland's figures of 6-45 came in 16.5 overs and marked his first five-wicket haul in Tests since his remarkable debut performance of 6/7 against England during the 2021 Ashes. The Sydney crowd erupted with enthusiasm, fully supporting the seamer as he achieved a match haul of ten wickets.
During the morning session, Ravindra Jadeja appeared to regain his aggressive batting style by slicing a short and wide delivery from Cummins for four, pushing India’s lead beyond 150. However, just two balls later, Cummins delivered a fuller ball that angled in and then seamed away, resulting in Jadeja edging to Alex Carey for a dismissal at 13 runs off 45 balls.
In his subsequent over, Cummins bowled one that angled in from wide of the crease, knocking over Washington Sundar for 12 runs off 43 balls. Boland secured his sixth wicket by having Mohammed Siraj edge to first slip, followed by toppling Jasprit Bumrah's leg-stump. Although Bumrah's participation remains uncertain due to back spasms, Australia is poised to tackle the critical task of chasing 162 runs on a challenging batting pitch.
Brief Scores: India 185 and 157 in 39.5 overs (Rishabh Pant 61; Scott Boland 6-45) trail Australia 181 in 50 overs (Beau Webster 57; Prasidh Krishna 3-42) by 162 runs
