Sydney [Australia], January 4: Indian seamers Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj, along with all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, helped India gain the upper hand at Tea on Day 2 of the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, reducing Australia to 181 all out, conceding a slender 4-run lead.
The second session resumed with Australia at 101/5, with debutant Beau Webster (28*) and Alex Carey (4*) unbeaten. The pair added 31 runs before Carey was dismissed for 21, having struck four boundaries. Captain Pat Cummins joined Webster, but the two only added 25 runs before Webster was dismissed by Nitish Kumar Reddy in the 45th over for a well-made 57 off 105 balls.
In the 47th over, Reddy struck again, dismissing Mitchell Starc for just 1 run. With Australia at 166/9, Scott Boland was bowled out by Mohammed Siraj for 1, leaving Australia all out for 181.
For India, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna claimed three wickets each, while Nitish Kumar Reddy and Jasprit Bumrah each took two wickets.
Earlier, Australia resumed Day 2 at 9/1, with Sam Konstas (7*) and Marnus Labuschagne at the crease. The Indian bowlers kept up the pressure, and Bumrah claimed the first wicket of the day, dismissing Labuschagne for just 2 runs, surpassing Bishan Singh Bedi’s record for most wickets by an Indian bowler in an overseas Test series.
Mohammed Siraj then made a game-changing impact in the 12th over, dismissing Konstas (23) and Travis Head (4) in quick succession, leaving Australia in trouble. Steven Smith and debutant Webster steadied the innings with a 50-run partnership, but Smith was dismissed by Prasidh Krishna for 33, leaving Australia at 101/5 at the break.
Brief Scores:
- India: 185 (Rishabh Pant 40, Ravindra Jadeja 26, Scott Boland 4/31)
- Australia: 181 all out (Beau Webster 57, Steven Smith 33, Prasidh Krishna 3/42)