2nd Test
Day-1 Evening Session Highlights:
Mitchell Starcâs six-wicket haul has highlighted the Australiaâs commanding start in Adelaide
At The Stumps of Day-1:
India scored 180 all out (1st Innings), where as Australia scored 86/1 (1st Innings).
So, finally India lead by 94 runs.
Mitchell Starc claimed his fourth five-wicket haul in D/N Tests and his 15th overall in Test cricket, helping Australia bowl India out for just 180 on the opening day in Adelaide.
Australia continued to dominate, reducing the deficit by 85 runs with a steady batting display.
Starc set the tone early with the first ball of the match, dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal, the centurion from the first Test, LBW with a full delivery.
This perfect start gave an under-pressure Australia a boost and sowed doubts in India’s mind about their decision to bat first.
KL Rahul survived two close callsâfirst when he was adjudged caught behind off Scott Boland’s first delivery, only for the decision to be overturned due to a no-ball, and again when Usman Khawaja dropped him at first slip.
Despite these reprieves, and with Shubman Gill playing fluently at the other end, India managed to stabilize.
Gill, playing his first Test of the series, was in fine touch, capitalizing on Starc’s aggressive lengths for a series of eye-catching boundaries.
Rahul also began to settle after a slow start.
The pair put on 69 for the second wicket, putting India in a relatively comfortable position.
However, Australia regained control in the final half-hour of the morning session.
Starc, returning for his second spell, made two quick breakthroughs.
He dismissed Rahul, caught low at gully by Nathan McSweeney, and had Virat Kohli edging a tentative shot to second slip.
Boland then added to the pressure, removing Gill, who had been playing well but was undone by a full delivery, which trapped him leg before.
India lost three wickets in just 15 balls, leaving them in a difficult position at lunch.
The wickets continued to fall in the afternoon.
Rohit Sharma, coming in at No. 6, was undone by a sharp delivery from Boland, while Cummins sent Rishabh Pant packing with a short ball.
Starc came back to complete his five-wicket haul, yorking both R. Ashwin and Harshit Rana in the same over.
With the tail exposed, Nitish Reddy played some aggressive shots, including an audacious reverse-scooped six off Boland.
However, he was the last man dismissed for a fighting 42, trying to hit out against Starc, who finished with career-best figures of 6/48.
Australia then faced tricky conditions, with the light beginning to fade and the pitch offering some movement.
Despite India generating more movement in the first ten overs than Australia, no wickets fell.
Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney, who was more watchful, held firm against Jasprit Bumrah’s early threat.
However, a change in angle from Bumrah eventually got Khawaja, who nicked a ball to first slip.
McSweeney also survived a close call when Pant dropped a catch off Bumrah that seemed destined for first slip.
McSweeney was joined by a determined Marnus Labuschagne, who took 18 balls to get off the mark.
The pair saw out the remainder of the day, giving Australia the edge after the first day’s play.
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