India went down to play against Australia with the embarrassing experience of being bowled out for 36 runs in the previous test match. Virat Kohli, the team’s best cricketer and regular captain, did not play either. However, the captaincy from Ajinkya Rahane, his extraordinary century and the great skill of the bowlers in Melbourne, Australia could not stand against them.
India won the Boxing Day Test by 8 wickets with a target of only 70 runs and played only 15.5 overs to complete the target. With this great victory, the visitors leveled 1-1 of the four-match Test series against the host.
Tuesday, day 4 of the 2nd test, was just only a formality. India made the preparation to win the match the day before. The hosts took a lead of only 2 with the last 4 wickets in hand. With those four wickets, however, they fought quite a bit in the morning.
Australia lost the day’s first wicket in 156 runs after scoring 133 runs by 6 wickets on the 3rd day. Pat Cummins, who scored 22 runs, was picked up by Jasprit Bumrah, who bowled well throughout the match. Later, the last recognized batsman Cameron Green was leading with Mitchell Starc. Debutant Mohammed Siraj returned Green at 45.
Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood were then able to take the team to 200, however, that was very trivial. India did not have any problem with the target of 70 runs.
Young opener Shubman Gill gave a smooth start by chasing an easy run. However, Mayank Agarwal could not keep pace with him. He left the field for 5 runs after caught the ball behind the wicket in Starc’s over. Cheteshwar Pujara came and handed over a catch to Cummins.
After losing 2 wickets for 19 runs, Rahane got down and took the team to victory chase. The unbeaten captain, who made 27 off 40 balls, took the winning run. Chasing a short run, Gill made 35 off 36 balls.
Many have contributed to the stage for India to win this match. Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin were the pioneers in stopping Aus’ 1st innings at just 195 runs. Bumrah took 4 wickets for 56 runs. Ashwin, who has dazzled the ball so far in the entire series, took 3 wickets for 35 runs.
After that, Rahane was credited with giving India a big lead. He scored his career’s 12th century under great pressure. With his 112 runs, Ravindra Jadeja’s effective 56 and Gill’s 45 took India beyond 300.
In the 2nd innings, Umesh retired after bowling for 3.3 overs and took 1 wicket. Two spinners took 4 wickets. Bumrah (2/54)-Siraj (3/36) took 5 wickets. This is where the match comes in India’s hand.
The two teams will play their 3rd Test in Sydney on January 7.
Score:
Australia 1st innings: 195
India 1st innings: 326
Australia 2nd Innings: 200 in 103.1 overs (133/6 in 66 overs of the previous day), Wade 40, Labuschagne 28, Green 45, Cummins 22, Starc 14, Hazlewood 10; Siraj 3/37, Jadeja 2/28, Bumrah 2/54, Ashwin 2/71, Yadav 1/5.
India 2nd Innings: (Target 70) 70/2 in 15.5 overs (Mayank 5, Gill 35*, Pujara 3, Rahane 26*; Starc 1/20, Cummins 1/22)Player of the Match: Ajinkya Rahane. Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com/
