AUS vs IND 5th Test Day 2 Highlights: Pant’s Blinder and Boland’s Spell Steal the Show
Day 2 of the 5th Test at the SCG saw Rishabh Pant’s half-century and Scott Boland’s four wickets. They were the highlights. They were the best moments of the much-anticipated India vs. Australia match. Despite India’s early struggles, the visitors led by 145 runs at day’s end. The battle for supremacy intensified.
AUS vs IND: Siraj and Krishna’s Early Strikes Put India on Top
India’s fast-bowling attack made early inroads into Australia’s batting lineup. Jasprit Bumrah’s crucial dismissal of Marnus Labuschagne in the fourth over of the day set the tone. Mohammed Siraj then bowled a fiery spell. He removed Sam Konstas and Travis Head in quick succession. This left Australia at 39-4.
Steve Smith (33) and debutant Beau Webster (57) added 57 runs. But, Prasidh Krishna’s return to Test cricket derailed their resistance. Krishna dismissed Smith, Alex Carey, and Webster to register figures of 3-42.
Nitish Kumar Reddy sealed India’s dominance, taking two key wickets. They were Australian skipper Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc. Siraj ended the innings with his third wicket. Australia fell four runs short of India’s first innings total.
AUS vs IND: Boland Strikes Early as India Falter
India’s second innings started well. Yashasvi Jaiswal hit four boundaries off Mitchell Starc in the opening over. However, Scott Boland soon turned the tide in Australia’s favor. The pacer dismissed Jaiswal (22), KL Rahul (16), and Kohli (12) in a devastating spell. India was reeling at 59-3.
Shubman Gill counterattacked but was caught by Alex Carey for 13 off Beau Webster’s bowling. By the first hour, India found themselves struggling at 78-4.
AUS vs IND: Pant’s Fireworks Light Up SCG
Enter Rishabh Pant. The wicketkeeper-batter unleashed a scintillating counterattack, smashing six boundaries and four towering sixes. Pant raced to his fifty off just 29 balls. It was the second-fastest fifty for India in Test cricket. He then scored a breathtaking 61 from 33 deliveries.
BACK TO BACK SIXES AGAINST STARC BY RISHABH PANT. 🥶
– He stood in both the innings for India. 🇮🇳pic.twitter.com/OwZvRvJBO0
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 4, 2025
His innings gave India’s innings much-needed momentum. He then fell to Pat Cummins while trying to accelerate. Nitish Kumar Reddy’s second failure of the match, once again courtesy of Boland, left India at 141-6 by stumps.
AUS vs IND: What to Expect on Day 3
India will resume their second innings. Ravindra Jadeja is 8* off 39. Washington Sundar is 6* off 17. They lead by 145 runs. With Australia’s great bowlers and India’s weak lower order, Day 3 should be thrilling.
Key Stats from AUS vs IND Day 2:
- Rishabh Pant: 61 (33 balls, fours – 6 , sixes – 4)
- Scott Boland: 4-42 in 13 overs
- Prasidh Krishna: 3-42 in 15 overs
- Beau Webster: 57 (105 balls, fours – 5)
