Pat Cummins’ Five-Wicket Haul Leads Australia to Series-Levelling Win
Australia Crush India by 10 Wickets in Adelaide as Pat Cummins Shines
Pat Cummins led Australia’s charge with a stellar five-wicket haul as they trounced India by 10 wickets in the second Test at Adelaide, leveling the series 1-1. Australia’s dominance in day-night Tests continued, securing their 12th win in 13 matches under lights.
India Crumble Under Cummins and Starc’s Pressure
Starting the day trailing by 29 runs with five wickets in hand, India’s hopes of salvaging a competitive lead were dashed early. Mitchell Starc struck first, dismissing Rishabh Pant with a near-unplayable delivery that induced an edge to second slip.
From there, it was the Pat Cummins show. The Australian skipper relentlessly targeted India’s lower order with a barrage of short-pitched deliveries. R Ashwin succumbed to one such bouncer, gloving a catch to the keeper.
Nitish Reddy tried to hold the innings together while managing the strike with the tailenders. He added crucial runs, including a slog over mid-on off Scott Boland and a hooked six off Cummins, briefly pushing India into a slender lead. However, Cummins had the final say, dismissing Reddy with a well-directed short ball to a deep fly slip.
Cummins’ five-wicket haul—his 12th in Test cricket—ensured India folded for 175, setting Australia a target of just 19 runs.
Australia Seal the Game with Ease
Australia’s chase was a mere formality. The openers knocked off the 19-run target without breaking a sweat, sealing an emphatic 10-wicket victory.
Standout Performers
Pat Cummins
The Australian skipper delivered a match-winning spell, claiming 5/57 in the second innings. His precise short-ball tactics and leadership set the tone for Australia’s dominance.
Mitchell Starc
Starc’s fiery spell in the morning session dismantled India’s resistance, finishing with figures of 6/48 in the first innings.
Nitish Reddy
The lone bright spot for India, Reddy top-scored in both innings (42 runs each), fighting valiantly against Australia’s pace attack.
Travis Head
His first-innings 140 laid the foundation for Australia’s commanding position in the match.
Key Takeaways
- Australia’s Day-Night Supremacy: With 12 wins out of 13 day-night Tests, Australia reaffirmed their mastery under lights.
- India’s Batting Woes: Collapsing twice under relentless pace bowling, India’s batting frailties remain a concern.
- Captain’s Knock: Cummins’ five-for underlined his prowess as both a bowler and a leader, steering Australia to a dominant win.
Brief Scores
- India: 180 (Nitish Reddy 42; Mitchell Starc 6-48) & 175 (Nitish Reddy 42; Pat Cummins 5-57)
- Australia: 337 (Travis Head 140, Marnus Labuschagne 64; Jasprit Bumrah 4-59, Mohammad Siraj 4-98) & 19/0
- Result: Australia won by 10 wickets
What Lies Ahead?
With the series tied at 1-1, the third Test promises to be a high-stakes battle. Can India regroup and bounce back, or will Australia carry their momentum forward? Stay tuned to EchoCricket.com for in-depth coverage and expert insights!
