Sydney, Jan 4 (NationPress) Bowler Scott Boland achieved a remarkable four-wicket haul, spearheading Australia's revival in the final session of the second day's play, placing the fifth Test in a precarious situation at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday.
After India secured a narrow four-run advantage in the first innings, they launched a fierce assault in their second innings, with Yashasvi Jaiswal striking four boundaries off Mitchell Starc in the very first over. Yet, Boland led the charge for Australia by claiming three wickets in swift succession, and finished the day with figures of 4-42.
Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant took control, scoring a dazzling 61 runs off just 33 deliveries, which included the fastest fifty by an overseas player in Tests on Australian soil and the second-fastest by an Indian in the format.
Although India holds a lead of 145 runs after concluding Day 2 at 141/6, they face the challenge of only having four wickets remaining, with the match poised for a thrilling conclusion as the second innings shootout looms.
The performance of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, who remain unbeaten on eight and six runs respectively, will be crucial on Day 3. India will also be hoping for the availability of captain Jasprit Bumrah, who underwent scans due to a back spasm, on a pitch that has been challenging for batting.
In the morning session, despite Bumrah's absence, who had figures of 2-33 in ten overs, India managed to dismiss the last five Australian wickets, bowling them out for 181 in the first innings. Prasidh Krishna, making his debut in the series, stepped up to break two vital partnerships with impressive figures of 3-42.
Mohammed Siraj finished with 3-51, while Nitish Kumar Reddy showcased his bowling prowess with 2-32, as all Indian seamers contributed to taking a narrow lead, supported by outstanding catching in the slips. For Australia, debutant Beau Webster was the leading scorer with a commendable 57 runs off 105 balls.
Bumrah made an early impact on Day 2 by drawing a faint edge off Marnus Labuschagne's bat, caught by Pant. India opted for a review, and snicko confirmed the edge, resulting in Labuschagne's dismissal for just two runs.
This marked Bumrah's 32nd wicket of the series, surpassing Bishen Singh Bedi's record of 31 to become India's highest wicket-taker in a Test series in Australia. Sam Konstas attempted to counter Bumrah's threat by hitting two boundaries, including a ramp shot.
However, Konstas was dismissed for 23 after edging a delivery from Siraj to the gully. The pressure mounted as Siraj dismissed Travis Head, caught at second slip. Steve Smith and Webster attempted to stabilize Australia's innings with a 57-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Smith showcased aggressive stroke play, hitting a six and a four off Prasidh, along with square-driving and straight-driving for additional runs, while Webster excelled with his glancing, pulling, and square-driving techniques.
However, Smith fell five runs short of reaching the milestone of 10,000 Test runs, nicking a delivery from Prasidh to second slip and departing for 33 runs off 57 balls just before lunch. Webster and Alex Carey ensured Australia did not lose further wickets in a session dominated by India.
The second session commenced with Webster and Carey striking five quick boundaries, bringing Australia past the 100-run mark. Krishna disrupted the threatening partnership by bowling a fuller delivery that skidded through to hit Carey’s off-stump.
India faced a challenging period with Bumrah leaving the ground for scans, and Webster becoming the second Australian batter, after Konstas, to score a fifty in his debut Test innings of the series. But Nitish turned the tide back in India's favor by bowling a good length delivery that had Pat Cummins edging to first slip.
In his subsequent over, Reddy had Starc caught at second slip, putting Australia in a precarious position regarding the lead. This concern escalated when Webster edged a short ball from Krishna and was caught in the gully for 57 runs, as Siraj's delivery nipped back to conclude Australia's innings at 181, with five batters dismissed for single-digit scores.
The final session began with Jaiswal capitalizing on short and wide deliveries from Starc, executing three beautiful cuts and an extra cover drive. KL Rahul began scoring with two boundaries before becoming Boland’s first victim of the innings, falling for 13 after inside-edging a drive onto his stumps.
Boland continued his form, getting Jaiswal out for 22 as he seamed one in, and then dismissed Virat Kohli for six with an edge to second slip. More trouble awaited India when Shubman Gill danced down the pitch but edged a delivery from Webster, marking his first Test wicket in the series and falling for 13.
With India struggling at 78/4, Pant made his entrance in typical fashion, dancing down the pitch and launching Boland over long-on. After hitting Cummins for four and clouting Boland for another boundary, he unleashed his trademark falling sweep, cut, loft, and slog-sweep, scoring four boundaries and a six off Webster.
Pant reached his fifty in just 29 balls by flicking a six over mid-wicket against Starc and then followed it up with another six in the same area on the following ball. However, his explosive innings ended when Cummins forced him to edge behind to Carey.
Boland claimed his fourth wicket when Reddy toe-ended a lofted off drive to Cummins at mid-off. Australia could have potentially claimed another wicket had Usman Khawaja not dropped Jadeja on six off Webster, concluding yet another thrilling day of Test cricket, where 15 wickets fell.
Brief Scores: India 185 and 141/6 in 32 overs (Rishabh Pant 61; Scott Boland 4-42) lead Australia 181 in 50 overs (Beau Webster 57, Steve Smith 33; Prasidh Krishna 3-42, Mohammed Siraj 3-51) by 145 runs
