Australia's Mitchell Starc (L) reacts as India's skipper Rohit Sharma (R) challenges the decision on the second day of the second Test between Australia and India at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide on December 7. Photo: AFP

Travis Head's brilliant 140 set the stage for Australia's dominance as they closed in on victory in the day-night second Test against India on Saturday. By the end of day two, India was struggling at 128-5, trailing by 29 runs, after a fiery spell under the Adelaide Oval lights from Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Scott Boland. Rishabh Pant was on 28 and Nitish Kumar Reddy on 15, as Australia eyed their eighth consecutive pink-ball victory in Adelaide to level the five-Test series, following a 295-run defeat in Perth.

Australia was all out just after tea for 337, having resumed on 86-1. Head delivered a typically flamboyant performance at his home ground in front of a large crowd. Batting at five, he scored almost a run a ball, hitting 17 fours and four sixes, while Marnus Labuschagne contributed a gritty 64 to build a first-innings lead of 157. In response, India faltered as the sun set, with KL Rahul lasting just 10 balls before Cummins sent a short ball to the ribs, resulting in a gloved catch to Alex Carey behind the stumps.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was out for a golden duck in the first innings, made 24 this time but fell to Boland, whose first ball took a nick to Carey. Boland also stunned Virat Kohli (11), with Carey making his third catch of the night, leaving India at 66-3. Shubman Gill was next to go after a determined 28, with his middle stump removed by Starc, who thought he had Rohit Sharma out lbw two balls later. The wicket was initially given but then ruled a no-ball, allowing Sharma to survive briefly before Cummins bowled him for six.

When play began, India got an early breakthrough with Nathan McSweeney adding just one to his overnight 38 before being beaten by Jasprit Bumrah's pace, nicking to wicketkeeper Pant. Bumrah and Pant then combined to remove Steve Smith (2) four overs later, with the former Australia skipper shaking his head in disbelief after falling into a similar trap. At the other end, Labuschagne kept his focus, rediscovering his form that had recently been questioned, reaching his 21st Test 50 off a patient 114 balls.

With the landmark behind him, he began playing more freely before a brilliant catch from Jaiswal at gully ended his innings, and Head took charge. Head adopted his usual aggressive posture, blasting two sixes off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin as he reached his half-century from 63 balls. He then accelerated, reaching his second 50 off just 48 deliveries to clock an eighth Test ton, despite being dropped on 76 by Mohammed Siraj. Mitchell Marsh briefly hung around before being caught by Pant on nine off Ashwin, while Carey contributed 15 before getting a faint edge to Pant off Siraj.

Head finally succumbed to Mohammed Siraj, clean-bowled, with the pair involved in a fiery exchange afterward as the Indian quick gave the hometown hero a send-off. When Bumrah, who took 4-61, bowled Cummins, the tail was quickly mopped up.

Source link:   https://www.khaleejtimes.com