India Vs Australia Highlights, 2nd Test Day 2 (India National Cricket Team vs Australia National Cricket Team Match Scorecard): The second Test is moving at a breakneck speed but not in the direction Indian cricket team would’ve hoped for. The tourists, high on confidence following their terrific win in Perth, have been pushed to the wall by Australian pace attack after another dominant day for the hosts at the Adelaide Oval.
India were bowled out for 180 after opting to bat first in the day-night contest and then ended up conceding a 157-run lead thanks to a belligerent ton from the bat of Travis Head. In their second dig, India showed little improvement as their five of their batters were sent back to the dug-out by the time the 21st over of their innings came to an end on Saturday.
On a track where Head dazzled with 140 off 141, Indian batters struggled again with the likes of KL Rahul, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma being dismissed cheaply. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill got the starts but failed to convert them into something significant. Even though India have scored at a rate of 5.33, they have lost wickets too.
At the close of play on Day 3, India were 128/5, trailing Australia by 29 runs. Rishabh Pant and Nitish Reddy have counterpunched, but the duo will need to bat out of their skins to bring their team back into the contest.
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Entertained enough? Hold onto your seats as this Pink Ball Test progresses into the ‘Moving Day’. It is a Sunday and anticipations are high, in fact, more electric as compared to this second day, which was immersive and full of action in itself. Australia is in a commanding position and their aim will be to clinch the remaining wickets and prevent India from taking a broad lead. Whereas, for India, a tough examination awaits on Sunday morning against this quality Aussie pace attack. Their aim should be to weather the first critical hour of play going unscathed and building upon the lead. Still, a mountainous task for the tourists to execute. Day 3 begins on Sunday, December 8 and the first ball will be bowled at 4 am GMT. Till then, cheers!
As things stand, Australia dictated the terms and conditions on this second day. First with the bat, courtesy of the massive contribution by Travis Head, and then with the seamers just not letting the Indian batters form a substantial partnership. As a result, all three sessions go in the favor of the hosts. India, on the other hand, is badly reeling in this game. The only positive for them was the pace tandem of Bumrah and Siraj who shared 8 wickets between them. The batters did not complement those bowling performances and hence, India finds itself in unfamiliar territory, staring a probable defeat. But, in cricket, conclusions cannot be drawn until the last ball has been bowled.
The second hour of play saw the ball repeatedly flirting past the edges, keeping India’s batters in constant uncertainty. Though Smith put down a chance, it proved inconsequential as Starc soon had Gill’s number. Australia’s bowling rotations proved masterful, with each change bringing fresh trouble for the Indians. The variable bounce from the surface only amplified their challenges, making it increasingly difficult for batters to settle in for long stays at the crease. Rishabh Pant tried to keep up the pace of scoring by playing some audacious strokes that kept the crowd entertained. He holds the key for India as they still trail by 29 runs.
Jaiswal and Gill maintained positive intent, keeping the scoreboard moving through a mix of well-placed boundaries and sharp running between wickets. Though Starc and Cummins repeatedly threatened with deliveries that beat the bat’s edges, it was Boland who landed a couple of quick blows, first dismissing Jaiswal just as his partnership with Gill was beginning to flourish. Virat Kohli’s vulnerability again resurfaced yet again, as he poked at the ball going outside off and nicked it. India was in all sorts of trouble being 66/3.
The final session commenced with emotions at full display and a participating crowd after a sensational play in the second session. Siraj injected in some unplayable deliveries from the outset. He and Bumrah made short work of Australia’s lower order, triggering a collapse that saw them lose their last four wickets for just 27 runs, sliding from a comfortable 310/6 to 337 all out. But before that, Australia had already taken the lead of 157 runs. Under the lights, India’s response was a bit rusty to begin with as KL Rahul couldn’t stay for long and perished too early.
STUMPS, DAY 2 – Session Summary – 26.3 overs, 133 runs, 7 wickets – 379 runs scored in the day! Yes, you read it correctly. What an entertaining day of cricket overall we have had here at the Adelaide Oval. A lively jam-packed crowd, in excess of 50,000 people, and a blockbuster progression of cricket. Australia holds all the aces as we speak as they have well and truly dominated this Pink Ball Test on the back of some pleasing performances.
23.6 – FOUR! A streaky boundary to end Day 2! Scott Boland serves this full and on middle, angling in. Nitish Kumar Reddy decides to go for a wild slog across the line but gets an inside edge that races away to the deep square leg fence for a boundary. Very risky but Reddy gets away with it. He and Boland exchange a few heated words as well. THAT WILL BE STUMPS ON DAY 2!
Batsman_1 : Nitish Kumar Reddy 15(14)
Batsman_2 : Rishabh Pant 28(25)
Bowler : Scott Boland 2/39(7)
Over : 24
Run : 11
Wicket : 0
Score : 128/5
Oh, what happened there? Is that a stumping? The Australian players appeal in unison and look quite interested. Good take from Carey behind the stumps as he flashes off the bail in the blink of an eye. However, the side-on replay shows that Nitish’s back leg never went in the air. NOT OUT.
Alex Carey comes up to the stumps now, to prevent the batter from stepping outside the crease. Gets his helmet on.
23.5 – Not out! Great keeping by Alex Carey though! He comes up to the stumps and Boland bowls this on a hard length, on off. Nitish Kumar Reddy fails to guide it away and Carey collects it sharply behind the stump and breaks the stumps in flash. The Aussies look interested here. However, the replay shows that Reddy’s back foot is inside the crease. He did lose his balance but after Carey broke the stumps. One ball to go now!
23.4 – Back of a length and outside off, Nitish Kumar Reddy leaves it alone. Two more balls for the day to go.
23.3 – Fuller and on middle, angling in, Nitish Kumar Reddy uses his feet to play it but gets an inside edge through square leg for a brace.
23.2 – On a length and on leg, Rishabh Pant clips it through square leg for a single.
23.1 – FOUR! Takes the risk and gets the reward! Scott Boland goes fuller and around off. Rishabh Pant skips down the track to loft it away but loses his bottom hand. However, he still manages to get enough bat power on it to go well over mid off for a boundary. India trail by 36 runs now!
Nitish Kumar Reddy is getting his wrist sprayed as the physio is out to check him up. He looks good to continue now. Also, a change in bowling, Scott Boland is back into the attack.
22.6 – FOUR! Top shot! Pat Cummins goes a bit too full and around off. Nitish Kumar Reddy gets on one knee and plays a glorious cover drive for a boundary. He holds the pose for the cameras as well.
Batsman_1 : Nitish Kumar Reddy 9(10)
Batsman_2 : Rishabh Pant 23(23)
Bowler : Pat Cummins 2/33(8)
Over : 23
Run : 7
Wicket : 0
Score : 117/5
22.5 – Hard length and on the sixth stump line, Nitish Kumar Reddy keeps it out to the off side.
22.4 – Touch fuller and on middle, Rishabh Pant tucks it through mid-wicket for another run.
22.3 – Back of a length and on off, Nitish Kumar Reddy dabs it in front of point for a quick run.
22.2 – Good length and on middle, straightens a bit. Nitish Kumar Reddy gets squared up as it goes off the outside edge along the ground to gully.
22.1 – Short of a length and on middle, Rishabh Pant pulls it to deep square leg for a single. Nelson on the board for India!
21.6 – Another full delivery, on the sixth stump line, angling away, Nitish Kumar Reddy leaves it alone.
Batsman_1 : Nitish Kumar Reddy 4(6)
Batsman_2 : Rishabh Pant 21(21)
Bowler : Mitchell Starc 1/49(9)
Over : 22
Run : 5
Wicket : 0
Score : 110/5
21.5 – Fuller again and on middle, shaping in, Nitish Kumar Reddy knocks it down the pitch.
21.4 – EDGED BUT IN THE GAP AND FOUR! Pitched up and around off angling away. Nitish Kumar Reddy looks for the big drive but gets an outside edge that flies past the diving Marnus Labuschagne at slip cordon for a boundary.
21.3 – Mitchell Starc hits the length hard and on middle, nips back in, Nitish Kumar Reddy looks to flick it away but misses an gets hit on the thigh pads.
21.2 – Full again and outside off, Nitish Kumar Reddy tries to reach out for it but mistimes his drive to short covers.
21.1 – Fuller and around off, Rishabh Pant drives it trough covers for a single.
20.6 – A huge appeal for caught behind, but the umpire looks uninterested. Australia opts for a review and challenges the on-field decision. This is a length delivery, angling down the leg stump line. Nitish Kumar Reddy stands tall on the back foot. He brings his bat in front to work it across to the leg side, but he is a bit early to go through his shot. Plays the wrong line and the ball passes close to the bat. Carey collects it behind the wickets. UltraEdge comes up and shows no spike when the ball passes through the bat. NOT OUT! Nitish can breathe a sigh of relief, at least for now.
Batsman_1 : Nitish Kumar Reddy 0(1)
Batsman_2 : Rishabh Pant 20(20)
Bowler : Pat Cummins 2/26(7)
Over : 21
Run : 1
Wicket : 1
Score : 105/5
Nitish Kumar Reddy walks out to bat now.
20.5 – OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! Cummins brings himself into the attack and strikes gold! India is in all sorts of trouble now as the Aussie skipper removes the opposition skipper. Pat Cummins steams in from over the stumps. Bowls a fractionally fuller-length delivery, angling straight on the off-pole. It lands and just straightens off the deck. Rohit Sharma is a bit late to bring his bat down in time and the ball zips past his bat to hit the top of off. Rohit Sharma, with his head pointing towards the ground, walks back to the dressing room. India lose half of their side now, still trailing by 52 more runs.