5th Test: Indomitable Boland Claims 4 Wickets as Australia Dismisses India for 185

Sydney, Jan 3 (NationPress) Scott Boland emerged as India’s bane once again, achieving a remarkable four-wicket haul as Australia bowled out India for a meager 185 on the first day of the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.

Choosing to bat first on a verdant pitch proved disastrous for India, marking their fifth first-innings failure in the series with a score under 200.

In addition to Boland’s impressive 4-31, Mitchell Starc contributed 3-49 while captain Pat Cummins added two wickets, showcasing Australia’s bowlers with a precise performance that accounted for nine dismissals.

On a cloudy morning, India opted to leave out captain Rohit Sharma, with Jasprit Bumrah stepping in as captain. During the morning session, Starc and Cummins exploited the steep bounce from the green SCG pitch, which appeared to be slower than expected.

KL Rahul began with solid judgment against deliveries outside the off-stump but fell for just four runs off 14 balls, chipping a half-volley on leg-stump to square leg off Starc. Boland struck early in India’s eighth over, seaming the ball away to catch Yashasvi Jaiswal’s edge, resulting in a catch by debutant Beau Webster at third slip, dismissing the opener for 10 off 26 balls.

The seamer nearly secured another wicket shortly after when he found Virat Kohli’s edge, but Steve Smith’s catch was ruled not out by TV umpire Joel Wilson after he touched the ground while attempting the catch.

Following this, Kohli appeared solid in defense, but as Shubman Gill gained momentum with boundaries against Cummins and Starc, he fell to Nathan Lyon in the final over before lunch, nicking a delivery behind to slip for 20 off 64 balls.

The post-lunch session started poorly for India as Boland’s sharp seam forced Kohli to jab at a delivery outside off-stump, leading to a catch for debutant Webster, dismissing him for 17 off 69 balls.

Starc continued his aggressive bowling, leaving Rishabh Pant bruised after hitting him on both the helmet and bicep, making the left-handed batter cautious. Starc’s speed overwhelmed Ravindra Jadeja, who struggled with the bouncers.

After hitting a four, Pant launched a six over the sightscreen against Webster, despite sustaining another body blow. Jadeja managed a boundary but was later dropped by Lyon. Pant ended a slow session by cutting Lyon through the gap.

After the tea break, Pant attempted to pull Boland but top-edged to mid-on, scoring 40 runs. Nitish Kumar Reddy followed suit, steering a wide delivery straight to slip.

Jadeja attempted to stabilize the innings with two boundaries before being trapped lbw by Starc for 22. Washington Sundar hit three boundaries in his brief innings of 14 off 30 balls before being dismissed by Cummins.

Although Jasprit Bumrah managed a few boundaries in his 17-ball 22, the highest score by an Indian skipper in the series, Australia wrapped up the innings as Starc dismissed Prasidh Krishna and Cummins got the Indian captain out in a similar fashion, concluding another disappointing batting display from the visitors.

Brief scores: India 185/10 in 72.2 overs (Rishabh Pant 40, Ravindra Jadeja 26; Scott Boland 4-31, Mitchell Starc 3-49) against Australia