Australia roared back into the Border-Gavaskar series with a commanding 10-wicket victory over India in the second Test in Adelaide.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas celebrated the win on social media, tweeting: “What a treat for fans after Australia’s pink-ball victory over India.”
Pat Cummins delivered a masterclass with the ball, taking 5/48 in India’s second innings, as the visitors were bundled out for 175, leaving Australia with a target of just 19 runs.
The run chase was a formality, as openers Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney sealed the win in just 3.2 overs, levelling the five-match series at 1-1.
Travis Head was named Player of the Match for his scintillating 140 on day two, his third consecutive Test century at Adelaide Oval. Head’s innings set up the platform for a dominant performance, bolstered by Mitchell Starc’s fiery eight-wicket haul across both innings.
India’s hopes for a miraculous comeback were dashed in the opening over of day three when Mitchell Starc dismissed Rishabh Pant, caught by Steve Smith at slip.
The Australians then unleashed a barrage of short-pitched deliveries, with Cummins and Starc dismantling the Indian lower order. Ravichandran Ashwin’s attempt to counterattack ended when he gloved a Cummins bouncer to Alex Carey. Harshit Rana, after being struck on the helmet by a Starc delivery, succumbed shortly after to another bouncer from Cummins.
Nitish Kumar Reddy was the lone bright spot for India, top-scoring with 42 in both innings. However, the visitors’ efforts were insufficient to avoid a heavy defeat.
The victory was a morale boost for Australia, who were under pressure after losing the series opener in Perth. The series now moves to Brisbane for the third Test at the Gabba, where India famously secured a historic win on their previous tour.
The stakes are high as both teams prepare for the crucial third Test, with the series poised at 1-1.
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