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Jasprit Bumrah celebrates the dismissal of Pat Cummins early on the fourth day of the Boxing Day test between Australia and India.
India completed a surprising change of form on Tuesday by claiming a memorable eight-field victory over Australia on day four of the second cricket test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
India’s sweeping victory, brilliantly led by substitute captain and man of the match Ajinkya Rahane, ties the four-game series into one-for-all.
The touring team’s remarkable victory comes after India posted a national record of 36 in an eight-wicket loss at the first test in Adelaide just over a week ago.
Chasing a modest goal of 70 to win Tuesday after knocking Australia out of 200 in its second inning, India comfortably reached 70-2 in 15.5 overs before tea break.
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India’s second inning had started badly, losing Mayank Agarwal (5) trapped behind Mitchell Starc’s bowling alley at 16-1. Pat Cummins doubled down on the next over, knocking out Cheteshwar Pujara (3) caught in the ravine.
Rahane, dropped in the 19th, finished undefeated at the 27th and hit the winning run, fittingly, after his first-inning century. Starter Shubman Gill completed an excellent debut with scores of 45 and 35 not eliminated.
India’s rhythm bowler Mohammed Siraj took his team off the field at lunch after taking 2-40 and 3-37 on debut, including claiming two of the four wickets to fall in the session. opening on Tuesday.
Previously, Australia’s tail had moved strongly, contributing 101 for the last four wickets after the home team had been 99-6.
Resuming Tuesday at 133-6, Pat Cummins (22) and Cameron Green added another 23 before Cummins dodged a Jasprit Bumrah goalie for a second slip. They shared a 57-person booth at the seventh gate.
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Spark Sport’s new cricket commentator Sonia Gray
Second player Green, 21, scored a graceful 45 before being caught in the middle of the wicket off Siraj at 177-8. Siraj continued to throw short and eliminated Nathan Lyon trapped behind eight runs later.
Josh Hazlewood offered no shots and was thrown by spinner Ravi Ashwin (2-71), with Starc stranded at 14.
Australia’s batting collapse on Monday came despite India’s bowler Umesh Yadav limping off with a calf muscle injury midway through his fourth over.
Matthew Wade hit a gritty 40 before spinner Ravindra Jadeja (2-28) caught the starter leg before the wicket at 98-4, causing a three-wicket mid-order collapse for one run.
Australia chose to hit and scored 195 in their first innings. Rahane’s 112 propelled India to 326 in response.
The four-game series is tied at one ahead of the third test that begins on January 7. The third test is scheduled to take place in Sydney, although Cricket Australia has yet to confirm this amid speculation that the match could be held in Melbourne due to the coronavirus pandemic.
