Australia Clinches Dominant Ten-Wicket Victory to Level Series in Adelaide

Australia crushed India by ten wickets in the second Pink-Ball Test at Adelaide Oval, leveling the series with a comprehensive win on the third afternoon. Pat Cummins’ five-wicket haul and Mitchell Starc's early breakthrough helped Australia dismiss India for 175 in their second innings. Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney then swiftly knocked off the required 19 runs, completing a dominant performance and securing a convincing win for the hosts.

Australia’s Clinical Performance with the Ball

The final day started with Australia in complete control. India, resuming at 128 for 5, faced a daunting task, and it didn’t take long for their resistance to break. Mitchell Starc made an immediate impact, removing Rishabh Pant for 28 with the very first delivery of the day. Pant, who had counter-attacked the Australian bowlers the day before, nicked a perfectly pitched Starc delivery behind to Alex Carey, bringing India’s hopes of a revival to an abrupt end.

From that point on, Cummins and Starc continued to dominate. Cummins was at his best, using the bouncer to great effect. He dismissed Ravichandran Ashwin and Harshit Rana with short balls, both caught behind or in the slips. Nitish Kumar Reddy, who had played an aggressive knock earlier, also fell to a Cummins bouncer, caught at fine third man after a top-edged hook shot. India’s lower order crumbled under pressure, and Cummins capped off his brilliant spell with the dismissal of the dangerous Reddy for 42, the top score in India’s second innings.

The dismissal of Reddy brought the end of India's resistance, and they were bowled out for 175, handing Australia a massive 295-run victory. The match concluded just over an hour into the morning session, marking an early end to what had been a thoroughly dominant performance by the hosts.

Cummins’ Brilliant Bowling Performance

Pat Cummins was the standout bowler for Australia. After a relatively quiet performance in the first Test, he returned to his best in Adelaide. Having dismissed Rohit Sharma with a peach of an inswinger under lights on the second evening, Cummins' accuracy with the older ball was key on Day 3. He adapted well to the change in conditions, making use of the bouncier surface and applying relentless pressure on the Indian batters.

His five-wicket haul included two key scalps in the morning session—Ashwin, who was caught behind, and Rana, who gloved a short ball to gully. Cummins also took the key wicket of Reddy, trapping him with a delivery angled across him after the Indian had hooked a bouncer for six, keeping the crowd entertained with his spirited bowling. Reddy's 42 off 47 balls was a brave effort but ultimately insufficient to save India from a heavy defeat.

India’s Fightback Fizzles Out

While India’s batting had shown glimpses of resistance, particularly from Reddy, their collapse in the second innings was inevitable. Apart from Reddy’s defiant knock, the rest of the Indian lineup failed to get going. The top order had crumbled quickly, and their middle and lower order, under pressure from Australia’s seamers, fell apart in the morning session.

India’s total of 175 was never going to be enough to challenge Australia’s massive first-innings lead of 337. The Australians, led by Cummins and Starc, ensured that the Indian batting line-up remained under pressure throughout the day, never allowing them a moment of respite.

Australia’s Perfect Chase

With just 19 runs required for victory, Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney made short work of the chase, completing the task in just four overs. McSweeney, the promising young batter, creamed two boundaries to take Australia to victory, and the crowd erupted in celebration as the hosts clinched the win with no wickets lost.

Khawaja and McSweeney’s composed chase capped off a perfect day for Australia, as they delivered a clinical performance in all departments. The victory was especially sweet for McSweeney, who had a crucial role in Australia’s first-innings total, and for the Adelaide crowd, who had been treated to a thrilling match that ended with a clean sweep for the hosts.

Starc’s Early Breakthrough and Head’s Heroics

Mitchell Starc's early breakthrough in the second innings set the tone for the day. His delivery to dismiss Pant was an excellent one, forcing the wicketkeeper-batter to nick behind. That early breakthrough effectively sealed India’s fate and left them reeling.

Travis Head, who had been Australia's hero with the bat in the first innings, also made his mark in the field. In a thrilling moment, Head produced a stunning tumbling catch to dismiss Mohammed Siraj, the last of India’s batsmen. Siraj had been a thorn in Head’s side earlier in the match, giving him a send-off after dismissing him in the second innings. Head’s catch to end India’s resistance was a fitting end to a match where he had already been named Player of the Match for his explosive 140 in Australia’s first innings.

The Bigger Picture: Australia’s Resounding Response

Australia’s emphatic victory in Adelaide was a timely and crucial response after their heavy loss in Perth, where they were beaten by 295 runs. The result in Adelaide has leveled the series 1-1, setting up a thrilling decider in the upcoming Tests. The dominant all-round performance in this match, with Head’s century, Cummins’ five-wicket haul, and Starc’s early breakthroughs, highlighted Australia’s strength and resilience.

The win also offered a glimpse of the potential Australia possesses when they play to their strengths. The pace attack, led by Cummins and Starc, was clinical, while the batting, led by Head and Khawaja, provided the foundation for a commanding total. India, on the other hand, will need to regroup after a collapse in both innings, with questions raised over their ability to handle Australia’s pace attack in challenging conditions.

Looking Ahead to the Decider

The series is now evenly poised, and the third Test promises to be an exciting encounter. Both teams will be keen to build on their performances in Adelaide. India will need to bounce back from a heavy defeat, while Australia will look to continue their momentum and capitalize on their home advantage.

In the meantime, Australia will savor this comprehensive victory, knowing they have delivered a statement in the series. With the win, they have shown their strength, and the series is now set for a thrilling conclusion.