0
0 Adelaide, December 8: Australia handed India a crushing 10-wicket defeat in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar series, leveling the series 1-1 at the Adelaide Oval. Dominating with both bat and ball, the hosts showcased an all-around performance to hand India a crushing defeat in just three days.
Cummins and Starc Shine with the Ball
Australian skipper Pat Cummins led from the front, dismantling India’s batting lineup with a five-wicket haul in the second innings. Mitchell Starc was equally impactful, finishing the match with eight wickets. Together, the duo exposed India’s frailty against high-quality pace on a lively pitch.
India, who had been bundled out for 180 in their first innings, could only muster 175 in their second. Nitish Kumar Reddy showed some resilience with scores of 42 in both innings, but the lack of partnerships cost India dearly.
Travis Head’s Masterclass
The batting was led by Travis Head who smashed a brilliant 140 in the first innings. He took the home team to a total of 337 and, thus, had them enjoying a lead of 157 runs. Further, contributions from Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney added more weight to the Aussie cause.
Clinical Chase
Set a paltry target of 19 runs, Australian openers Khawaja and McSweeney wasted no time. They chased down the total in just 3.2 overs, wrapping up a one-sided encounter.
Post-Match Reactions
India’s skipper Rohit Sharma acknowledged his team’s shortcomings. “We didn’t play to our potential, and Australia capitalized on our mistakes. We’ll regroup and aim to bounce back in the next Test,” he said.
Australia’s Cummins credited his team’s preparation. “We stuck to our plans and executed well. It’s satisfying to level the series,” the skipper remarked.
Looking Ahead
With the series tied, attention now shifts to the third Test at the Gabba. Both teams will look to address their weaknesses and take the lead in what promises to be an intense contest.
The Adelaide Test revealed much about Australia’s strength at home and exposed India’s need to apply better against the pace. Cricket fans are going to witness high drama as the battle for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy continues.
Average Rating