India broke open the game with four wickets in the first session of the second day of the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Australia moved ahead and scored 92 runs in 26 overs. But the game is in the balance and set up beautifully.
Jasprit Bumrah got Usman Khawaja’s wicket on the final ball of day one. They made full use of that opening on the second morning.
The first couple of overs didn’t see a lot happening. But it was once again captain Bumrah who got India the first wicket of the day. He got Marnus Labuschagne nicking to the keeper. The umpire was unmoved but India were confident and got the decision in their favour on review.
Sam Konstas continued to play in an attacking way. He charged down the track and hit Bumrah for a four down the ground before lapping him over the cordon. However, his funky stay at the crease came to an end with Mohammed Siraj working him over with an excellent outswinger.
The Hyderabad-born pacer forced Konstas to edge to second slip. Travis Head walked out at No. 5 and hit a sublime boundary through mid-wicket off his second delivery. But Siraj got the prized scalp of the left-hander on the very next delivery as Head edged to second slip.
That double-wicket over from Siraj bolstered India and they were well ahead in the game. Australia were in trouble at 39/4 and the Indian new-ball pair of Bumrah and Siraj had their tails up. Steve Smith also played and missed a couple of times and even survived a runout chance as Washington Sundar couldn’t hit the stumps direct at the non-striker’s end from square leg.
But once the early nerves settled, the premier Australia batter looked in excellent touch. He smacked Prasidh Krishna for a six and a four to release the pressure. Krishna’s first spell was inconsistent as he conceded 21 runs in five overs.
Smith and Webster kept the scoreboard ticking along nicely. Nitish Kumar Reddy came on for a spell and couldn’t sustain the pressure either. He was hit for a couple of boundaries in his third over as Smith moved into the 30s.
Webster was looking very comfortable at the crease while Smith seemed to be in ominous form. After Bumrah and Siraj, India let the pressure off and Australia could get some easy runs.
Prasidh Krishna gets rid of Smith just before lunch
Just when it looked like things were settling down for Australia and the Smith-Webster duo were motoring along nicely, Krishna struck before lunch. He induced the edge from Smith and had him caught at second slip. The Australia No. 4 was out for 33 and the 57-run stand was broken.
Alex Carey came out and struck a boundary early. He has been getting some good starts in this series and Australia will hope he can carry that forward. Webster has looked good and is unbeaten on 28. They are currently 101/5.
India have an opening with the wicket of Smith. Bumrah is going to start after lunch and that is going to be a crucial spell. Siraj has bowled really well and has looked threatening. India will hope Krishna can keep up the pressure.
It is a crucial session coming up. Australia are still 84 runs behind with five wickets in hand.
BRIEF SCORES: India 185 (Rishabh Pant 40, Ravindra Jadeja 26, Jasprit Bumrah 22, Scott Boland 4/31, Mitchell Starc 3/49) vs Australia 101/5 (Steven Smith 33, Beau Webster 28, Jasprit Bumrah 2/27, Mohammed Siraj 2/28).
