Fans react as Australia go 2-1 up after dramatic win over India in the Boxing Day Test

Dec 30, 2024

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_Australia beat India in the Boxing Day Test

Australia claimed a commanding 184-run victory in the 4th Test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, taking a 2-1 lead in the 5-match series with a dominant performance in both batting and bowling. After setting a massive target of 340 runs for India in the final innings, Australia’s bowlers delivered a ruthless performance, reducing India to just 155 in their second innings.

Steve Smith headlines Australia’s dominant first innings

Australia posted a mammoth 474 in their first innings, led by a brilliant 60 from Sam Konstas and a well-crafted 57 from Usman Khawaja. Marnus Labuschagne contributed valuable runs, with brilliant 72. Steve Smith, however, was the chief destroyer, smashing a tremendous century. He ended up scoring 140 runs off 197 deliveries.

Australia’s middle order, including Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey, chipped in with crucial runs, and the tail wagged to take the score past 470. For India, Jasprit Bumrah was the standout bowler with three wickets, while Ravindra Jadeja claimed two, including a vital contribution to dismissing Australia’s top order. India struggled to get breakthroughs consistently as Australia built partnerships, ultimately setting India a daunting target.

Nitish Reddy bails out India

In reply, India’s batting faltered under pressure, and despite a tremendous century from Nitish Reddy and a valiant 81 from Yashasvi Jaiswal, India were bowled out for 369. The Indian middle order collapsed, with Virat Kohli (36), Rishabh Pant (28), and Jadeja (17) failing to convert their starts. Cummins and the Australian bowlers dominated as the Indian batting order crumbled, leaving Australia with a 105-run lead heading into the second innings.

Also WATCH: Jasprit Bumrah gives intense ‘death stare’ after dismissing Nathan Lyon on Day 5 of MCG Test – AUS vs IND

Australia’s second innings and India’s collapse

Australia’s second innings saw a steady collapse as well as they were restricted to 234, with a solid 70 from Labuschagne. Bumrah again played a key role, picking up five wickets. Despite a few contributions, Australia’s total was well within India’s reach to chase on the final day. But their chase turned out to be an uphill task.

Australia’s bowlers, led by Pat Cummins, were relentless. Cummins finished with 3 wickets in India’s second innings, and Boland and Lyon also played pivotal roles in the collapse. The final day saw India’s batting lineup struggle against a determined Australian bowling attack. While Jaiswal scored a valiant 84, wickets fell at regular intervals. Cummins led the attack with precision, and Boland supported effectively, leading to India’s dismissal for 155, 184 runs short of the target.

Here is how fans reacted:

Also READ: AUS vs IND: Virat Kohli’s off-stump woes ignite ‘Happy Retirement’ trend on social media | MCG Test

For latest cricket news & updates, visit CricketTimes.com.

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