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On Sunday, December 8, the Australia cricket team registered a commanding 10-wicket win over India in the second Test of the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide. The day three of the Test match saw Australia bundle out India for just 175 runs in their second innings as their captain Pat Cummins led from the front with the ball to level the BGT 2024-25 1-1.
At the start of day three with half the Indian side back in the dugout, Australia put up a show as they restricted India to 175 runs, scalping five remaining wickets after they had taken a lead of 18 runs. With a target of 19 runs set by the vistors, the Aussie opening pair of Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney comfortably chased the total to hand a commanding 10-wicket win and level the series with three more Test matches remaining in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series.
Australia maintain their clear record in home pink-ball Test
After Rohit Sharma-led Team India had won the toss early in the second Test, the visitors were bundled out at the score of 180 in 44.1 overs. KL Rahul (37), Shubman Gill (31), Rishabh Pant (21), R Ashwin (22) along with Nitish Kumar Reddy (42) were the only batters to get into double-digit scores. Apart from them, the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma failed to make an impact with the bat, getting out cheaply across the two innings.
For the hosts, Mitchell Starc was the pick of the bowlers in the first session, picking up his fourth five-wicket haul, most a pacer and went upto complete a six-for. Apart from him, Pat Cummins and Scott Boland got two wickets each to restrcit the Indian lineup under 200. Afterwards, on the back of a century knock from Travis Head (140 off 141), Australia put up 337 runs, posting a considerable lead of 157 runs, along with a half-century knock from Marnus Labuschagne (64 off 126).
With 157-run lead, the Indian top-order fell against the experienced Australian pace attack with half of the side returning back to the pavilion at Stumps on Day 2 and Rishabh Pant and Nitish Kumar Reddy taking charge in the middle. But none of them could much help, with Nitish Reddy once again finishing as their top run-scorer. This time, Pat Cummins starred with the ball, leading the team from the front as he completed a five-wicket haul with India putting 19-run target on the board.
At last, the Aussie opening pair of Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney did the part for the hosts as they levelled the series to maintain Australia's dominating record in pink-ball Test. Homeboy Travis Head was adjudicated as the player of the match for his crucial ton in helping Australia level the series.
