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Rishabh Pant’s aggressive innings helps Indian team boosts their lead on Day 2 of the fifth Test against Australia.
NEW DELHI: On Day 2 of the fifth Test between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the match remained finely balanced. After Australia posted 181 in their first innings, India began their second innings with a narrow lead of just four runs.
Australia’s batting struggled against a disciplined Indian bowling attack. Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj were the key performers, each claiming three wickets. The Indian bowlers kept the pressure on, with Krishna’s bounce and Siraj’s pace troubling the Australian batsmen.
Australia’s top-order collapse was compounded by solid middle-order resistance, but Scott Boland’s 4-42 was the standout performance, as he provided crucial breakthroughs and kept the Indian bowlers in the hunt.
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In India’s second innings, the team faced early setbacks. Both openers, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul were dismissed in a quick span of time afterwards the crucial wickets of Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill followed leaving India under pressure. However, Rishabh Pant came to the rescue with a blistering 61 off 33 balls, including the second-fastest fifty for India in Test cricket, scored in just 29 balls.
Pant’s attacking style shifted the momentum in India’s favour, with a flurry of boundaries. His aggressive knock brought India’s lead to a more commanding position.
But just as Pant looked set to take India further ahead, he was dismissed by Pat Cummins, who got the wicket at a crucial juncture, slowing down the Indian charge. Pant’s dismissal marked a shift in momentum back toward Australia, which would hope to exploit the situation.
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At stumps, India were 141/6, leading by 145 runs. Ravindra Jadeja (8*) and Washington Sundar (6*) remained at the crease, with the duo aiming to extend India’s advantage on Day 3. Pant’s knock was the highlight of the day, showing his fearless approach and ability to shift momentum. His quickfire innings helped India fight back after early setbacks.
Scott Boland’s performance with the ball was also crucial in keeping Australia in the game. His four-wicket haul was vital in limiting India’s progress. As the match heads into Day 3, both teams will be eager to seize control. India’s bowlers will look to exploit the conditions, while Australia’s batsmen will aim to build partnerships and set a challenging target.
The series currently stands at 2-1 in favour of Australia, making this Test crucial for India’s hopes of levelling the series. With the match evenly poised, fans can expect an exciting contest as the game progresses.
