Australia Clinches the Test Series Over India After a Wait of Ten Years and Secures a Spot in the WTC Final.
The Aussies entered the final Test match with a 2-1 lead in the five-match series, knowing that a win or even a draw would guarantee them the series victory and a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final.
Match Details
The final Test match was played at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) from January 3rd to 5th. With the stakes high, India had no option but to win the match to draw the series 2-2, while Australia aimed to seal the series triumph.
India won the toss and elected to bat first, hoping to set a challenging target for the Aussies.
India First Innings
Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul opened the innings for India, but their partnership didn’t last long. KL Rahul fell cheaply, and soon after, Jaiswal followed him back to the pavilion. The Indian batting lineup crumbled under pressure, losing wickets at regular intervals.
No batsman managed to anchor the innings, and India was bowled out for a modest total of 185 runs. Scott Boland shone with the ball, taking four wickets, while Mitchell Starc picked up three, and Pat Cummins claimed two crucial scalps.
Australia First Innings
Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja started the innings for Australia, but Jasprit Bumrah ensured the Australian openers couldn’t settle.
Beau Webster was the only batsman to put up some resistance, scoring a short but crucial knock of 57 runs. However, the rest of the batting lineup faltered as Australia was bowled out for 181 runs, trailing India by four runs. Mohammad Siraj and Prasidh Krishna were the stars with the ball, taking three wickets each, while Bumrah and Nitish Rana chipped in with two wickets apiece.
India’s Second Innings
India began their second innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul once again opening the innings. However, the story remained the same as both openers departed early.
Rishabh Pant was the only batsman to play a notable innings, scoring an impactful 61 runs. Unfortunately, no other batsman stepped up, and India managed to post a below-par total of 157 runs.
Scott Boland continued his dream performance, claiming a five-wicket haul in the second innings, taking his match tally to six wickets.
Australia Second Innings
Chasing a target of 162 runs, Australia began their second innings with Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja opening the innings. The duo started confidently, but Prasidh Krishna broke their partnership by dismissing Sam.
Prasidh continued his fine spell, taking the wickets of Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith. However, Travis Head and Beau Webster ensured no further hiccups as they guided Australia to victory.
Australia comfortably chased the target, winning the match by six wickets and sealing the series 3-1. With this triumph, the Aussies secured their place in the WTC Final, ending a decade-long wait for a Test series win against India.