Jasprit Bumrah’s choice to bat first on a green-tinged SCG pitch backfired as Australia’s bowlers took benefit of the energetic wicket to tear by way of India’s batting lineup.
Scott Boland took 4-31 off 20 overs, whereas Mitchell Starc had 3-49, as India had been bowled out for lower than 200 for the fifth time within the sequence.
At stumps, Australia was 9-1 in reply, with Bumrah (1-7) having Usman Khawaja (2) caught at slip.
The brand new skipper instantly celebrated within the route of Sam Konstas after a fiery last over that noticed the younger batter and Bumrah face off with a verbal alternate simply two balls prior.
The beginning of the fifth Check mirrored the 4 earlier because the bowlers dominated early.
After a number of deliveries beat the sting of the bat exterior off-stump, Starc discovered extra pleasure bowling straighter as Rahul (4) chipped a easy catch to Konstas at sq. leg within the fifth over.
Boland solely wanted 4 balls at Jaiswal (10) to have the younger opener edge a ball by way of to debutant Beau Webster, changing Mitch Marsh.
That introduced Kohli to the crease. Kohli was greeted by booing from many within the the SCG crowd, stemming from his deliberate shoulder bump on Konstas on the opening morning of the Boxing Day Check for which he was later fined.
And fittingly, his first ball was essentially the most dramatic of the session. Boland drew the sting and it flew low to Steve Smith’s proper hand at second slip. Smith appeared to get his hand just below the ball earlier than it hit the bottom and the ball popped up for Marnus Labuschagne to finish the catch, sparking wild celebrations for the hosts.
The catch was referred to TV umpire Joel Wilson with replays suggesting the ball grazed the grass because it got here out of Smith hand and Kohli survived.
As lunch approached, Nathan Lyon (1-19) teased Gill (20) to edge to Smith.
Kohli’s (17) luck did not prolong a lot additional after the break a he once more edged behind from Boland to be India’s solely wicket to fall in a gradual center session.
Pant, who was broadly criticized after a pair of free dismissals in Melbourne, once more performed a rash shot to hole-out off Boland for 40 which triggered a collapse of 6-65 to finish India’s innings.
Australia lead the sequence 2-1 and should keep away from defeat to regain the Border-Gavaskar trophy for the primary time since 2014-15. A win by India and a drawn sequence at 2-2 would enable the guests to retain the trophy for a record-extending fifth consecutive time.
A win for Australia on the SCG would guide the staff’s spot in a second straight World Check Championship last. Australia beat India within the 2023 decider.
