Sydney, January 3 (Agency): The opening day of the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia concluded with both teams facing challenges. India managed to post 185 runs in their first innings, while Australia stumbled early, finishing the day at 9/1.
Sam Konstas remains unbeaten on 7 runs, while Usman Khawaja fell cheaply for 2 runs, bowled by India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.
India’s First Innings: A Struggle Against Australia’s Bowlers
Opting to bat first after stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah won the toss, India faced an uphill battle against a disciplined Australian bowling attack. Despite a few promising partnerships, India failed to build momentum and were bowled out for 185 runs.
- Top Scorer: Rishabh Pant, who displayed resilience with a well-crafted 40 runs.
- Contributions: Ravindra Jadeja added 26, Bumrah played a captain’s knock of 22, and Shubman Gill chipped in with 20 runs.
Key Partnerships
India’s innings saw sporadic partnerships, but none lasted long enough to challenge Australia’s dominance:
- A 44-run stand between Pant and Jadeja steadied the ship after a flurry of wickets.
- Late contributions from Bumrah helped push India’s total to a somewhat respectable 185.
Bowling Brilliance: Scott Boland Shines for Australia
Australian bowlers exploited the conditions perfectly, with Scott Boland leading the charge, claiming 4 wickets for minimal runs.
Australian Bowling Figures
- Scott Boland: 4 wickets
- Mitchell Starc: 3 wickets
- Pat Cummins: 2 wickets
- Nathan Lyon: 1 wicket
Boland’s double strike in one over, dismissing Rishabh Pant and debutant Nitish Reddy, was a pivotal moment that derailed India’s middle order.
India’s Top-Order Woes Continue
India’s top order failed to deliver once again:
- Openers KL Rahul (4) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (10) departed within the first eight overs.
- Virat Kohli, struggling for form, managed just 17 runs before falling to Boland.
Shubman Gill and Kohli stitched a brief partnership to take India past 50, but wickets fell in quick succession, leaving the middle order under pressure.
Australia’s Stumbling Start
In reply, Australia also had a shaky beginning. Jasprit Bumrah, leading from the front, dismissed opener Usman Khawaja (2) with a peach of a delivery.
- Australia closed the day at 9/1, with Sam Konstas holding fort at 7 not out.
Key Moments of Day 1
- Scott Boland’s Domination: His 4-wicket haul dismantled India’s middle order.
- Pant-Jadeja Partnership: A crucial 44-run stand provided some stability to India’s innings.
- Bumrah’s Early Strike: His dismissal of Khawaja put India on the front foot at the end of the day.
Score Summary
India 1st Innings
185 all out in 55.2 overs
- Rishabh Pant: 40
- Ravindra Jadeja: 26
- Jasprit Bumrah: 22
Bowling (Australia)
- Scott Boland: 4/36
- Mitchell Starc: 3/52
- Pat Cummins: 2/48
- Nathan Lyon: 1/32
Australia 1st Innings
9/1 in 4 overs
- Sam Konstas: 7*
- Usman Khawaja: 2 (bowled Bumrah)
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
