Australia claimed a convincing 10-wicket victory against India in the second Test, squaring the series at 1-1. Pat Cummins’ stellar performance, taking 5-57, played a crucial role in dismissing India on day three at the Adelaide Oval.
Resuming at 128-5, India fell short, only managing 175 in their second innings despite Nitish Kumar Reddy’s persistent 42. Australia required just 19 runs to win, a target swiftly chased down by openers Nathan McSweeney and Usman Khawaja in a swift 3.2 overs.
Mitchell Starc’s impactful 6-48 set the tone on the first day, supported by Travis Head’s remarkable 140 runs on the second. Rishabh Pant’s dismissal early on day three spelled trouble for India, as Cummins adopted a short-ball strategy to dismantle the lower order.
Ravichandran Ashwin and Harshit Rana were victims of Cummins’ aggressive bowling. Rana’s mishandling of a short delivery further demonstrated Cummins’ strategic brilliance. Though Reddy showed some resilience, he too fell to Cummins, highlighting Australia’s dominance.
Australia’s disciplined approach was evident as Scott Boland also contributed with 3-51, wrapping up the innings with Mohammed Siraj’s dismissal. The victory required Australia’s openers to merely wrap up the match, which they did with minimal fuss.
Post-match, Australian captain Pat Cummins expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, noting how Travis Head’s innings shifted the momentum decisively. Conversely, India’s captain Rohit Sharma admitted to missed opportunities and acknowledged the challenge posed by Australia.
Former Australia bowler Glenn McGrath noted the resilience shown by the Australian team, highlighting improvements since the first Test. The series now looks ahead to the third Test in Brisbane, with both teams having clear objectives to pursue.
Australia’s display in the second Test exemplified strategic execution and resilience. As the series moves forward, both teams face pivotal matches in Brisbane, keeping the competition intense.
Source: Bbc
