‌AUS vs IND | Twitter reacts to Oz pacers capitalize on Head’s heroics to keep India off track  heading to moving day 

Arijit Kundu

ByArijit Kundu, SportsCafe Editor

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Australia lead by 29 runs heading to the third day on the back of Travis Head’s dynamic 140 and Marnus Labuschagne’s 64. Indian batters failed to demonstrate the right technique against the new pink ball losing half their wickets at the end of the second day at the Adelaide Oval. 

The overnight batters Nathan McSweeney and Marnus Labuschagne failed to extend their partnership on the second day’s morning session, with Bumrah outsmarting the former in the morning spell. Steve Smith followed suit next with Australia at 103/3. Subsequently, Marnus and Travis Head consolidated a 65-run stand against the worn-out ball before Nitish Reddy offered the breakthrough a few minutes before Lunch. With Head settled and Mitch Marsh on the other end, Australia reflected 200/4 at Lunch.

Having already got the lead, Australia continued to stamp authority despite Ashwin getting rid of Marsh early in the second session. Head switched gears and capitalised on the looseners, smacking four sixes and 17 fours to irritate the Indian bowlers. It was Siraj who cleaned him up at 140 with the second new ball after outsmarting Alex Carey. Skipper Pat Cummins followed suit with Bumrah earning his fourth wicket of the innings to close out for Dinner break as the hosts were 332/8 in 85 overs.

As the third session unfurled, Siraj cleaned up the tail swiftly to bundle Australia for 337 runs. In response, the Indian openers seemed careful under floodlights, trying to reduce a lead of 157 runs with textbook strokes. But Pat Cummins breached their plans with a bumper getting rid of Rahul followed by Scott Boland nicking Jaiswal’s outside edge on his first ball. Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill nurdled around for a brief period before Boland nicked off the former followed by Starc flattening Gill’s middle stump. Rohit Sharma failed to sparkle amidst Rishabh Pant’s counterattack, with Cummins knocking off his opposite number’s top of off. With 105/5 and 52 runs behind, Nitish Reddy joined Pant to withstand the remainder of the day, propelling India to 128/5 with a  four on the last ball of the day.

Gone!

Crucial day ahead

The end

All eyes on Pant

All eyes on NKR

India trails

Good one

Stumps

Perfect days

Advantage Australia

 

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