Australia 181 (Webster 57, Prasidh 3-42, Siraj 3-51) and 162 for 4 (Khawaja 41, Webster 39*, Head 34*, Prasidh 3-65) beat India 185 (Pant 40, Boland 4-31, Starc 3-49) and 157 (Pant 61, Boland 6-45, Cummins 3-44) by six wickets
Australia regained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the silverware that had eluded them for a decade, and confirmed their spot within the World Take a look at Championship (WTC) ultimate alongside South Africa, after ending off India inside three days on the SCG.
The goal was a considerable one for Australia, particularly on this spicy SCG floor, nevertheless it did seem a complete lot smaller when Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna sprayed the brand new ball round. The pair conceded eight runs through wild leg-side wides within the first two overs. Although Prasidh tightened up and took three wickets, together with that of Steven Smith, Bumrah’s absence hung like Coleridge’s albatross round India’s neck.
Scott Boland celebrates his match haul of ten wickets•Getty Pictures
Boland had began the day with a maiden and continued to stalk each the sides by hitting an ideal size. He had Siraj caught at first slip and castled Bumrah within the fortieth over to wrap up India’s innings. Boland then, fittingly, held the ball aloft and led Australia off the sector, with the SCG crowd giving him a rousing reception.
His captain Cummins had earlier accounted for Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. Jadeja had been dropped by Smith within the slips on 6 on day two, nevertheless it price Australia simply seven runs, with Cummins going a lot fuller to kiss Jadeja’s outdoors edge. He then nipped one by Washington’s gate to reveal India’s tail to Boland.
Australia capitalised on the wayward new-ball bowling from Siraj and Krishna, working away to 39 for no loss within the fourth over. Prasidh offered India with the breakthrough when he had Sam Konstas miscuing a slog to mid-off for 22 off 17 balls.
After the second day’s play, Prasidh spoke of how he shifted from his inventory again of a size plan to a a lot fuller one after a chat with the analyst. Nevertheless, on Sunday, with the tougher, newer ball, he gleaned extra bounce and seam motion along with his pure size. After smacking Marnus Labuschagne on his elbow, Prasidh had him steering a catch to gully.
India needed to wait till after lunch to eliminate Usman Khawaja. The opener misjudged Siraj’s size, bottom-edging a pull to Pant for 41 off 45 balls. India felt that they had been on to one thing after that. Siraj roared whereas Virat Kohli, who stood in as captain, charged in the direction of his bowler from the slips and animatedly pumped his fist.
Beau Webster, the debutant, roars after hitting the profitable runs•Getty Pictures
On Sunday, Webster struck an unbeaten 39 off 34 balls and offered the coup de grâce when he stepped out to Washington and pumped him straight of mid-off for 4.
Prasidh and Siraj bowled 24 of the primary 25 overs within the chase. Their solely respite – moreover a lunch break – got here when Australia had been three hits away from victory. Jadeja did not bowl in any respect within the ultimate innings whereas Washington bowled only one over. Whereas Australia had immense depth of their assault, India lacked it and Bumrah’s absence solely compounded their troubled tour of Australia.
Deivarayan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
