The series was level at 1-1 and the action had turned to the mighty MCG. India had won a close one at the Adelaide Oval while Australia had dominated at Perth. Virat Kohli won the toss and chose to bat on a typical flat wicket at the MCG. Mayank Agarwal, on his debut, showed great sense of promise as he went on his way to score a silky 70. But it was Pujara and Kohli's time to take over the spotlight as they combined a brilliant partnership to put India in a very strong position at the end of day 1. The grind continued on the second day as India took the score well in excess on 400. Australia survived some nervy overs at the end of day 2. Marcus Harris and Aaron Finch took guard again on day 3 morning but little did they know that Jasprit Bumrah was going to rip through them on such a slow wicket. Ishant Sharma got the wicket of Aaron Finch, caught brilliantly at short mid wicket by Mayank Agarwal, diving low to his left! Bumrah was bowling to Marcus Harris who he had already hit on the head, once in Adelaide and again in Perth. Bumrah came around the wicket and bowled a rapid bouncer. He tried to hook only to end up being in Ishant Sharma's big palms at deep fine leg. Kerry O'keefe was furious in the 'fox' commentary box-' Harris wanted four for that on an inconsistent bouncing pitch, that is a poor shot selection boys!' (in the typical Kerry O'keefe accent). Jadeja had Khawaja caught at forward short leg for not too many as Bumrah came back for another burst just before the lunch break. Shaun Marsh had settled in and looked quite good. Bumrah was bowling the last over before lunch and it is fair to say that he set up Shaun Marsh like never before. A couple of good length deliveries followed by a couple of balls nipping away and here he was steaming in for the last ball before lunch with all of 10000 Indians behind him. What Shaun Marsh must have been expecting? A short ball? Another good length delivery? At the most a fast Yorker at 145! What did Bumrah deliver? A slow yorker at 119! "A big slower one! Jasprit Bumrah you are brilliant!"- louded Shane Warne from the commentary box, a big fan of his! Wow that was something out of the world from Jasprit Bumrah. A slower one without any change in the action. It dipped on Shaun Marsh and hit him low on his front pad on the full. It was so well disguised that Marsh was through with the shot yesterday afternoon! Marsh was stunned as he kept looking down with a sense of admiration towards the bowler.
Australia resumed after lunch at 89-4 and Jasprit Bumrah was at it once again. Travis Head had looked good throughout the series and he was looking good once again at the MCG. He was negotiating Bumrah quite well from over the wicket with ball going away. Bumrah decided to come around the wicket and the first ball he bowled was on the money. Boom! A snorter of a full pitched delivery at 143 and the timber was disturbed. Travis Head was very late through the shot as he was done for pace on a slow wicket. Australian captain was the next to go as he edged one to young Rishabh Pant to give Bumrah his fourth wicket. Shami went straight through Patrick Cummins just when everybody was talking about how good a defence he has got. Australia were 8 down with just about 150 on the board. Bumrah came back for another spell as he had his sight set on a five for and a potential six for. We know by now that Nathan Lyon is a credible batsman but even the great AB de Villiers had succumbed to Bumrah's yorker so Lyon wasn't a great deal for Bumrah, was he? A rapid toe crusher was always going to be more than good enough and it was. It hit Lyon flush in front as Australia found themselves 9 down. We have to admit that Josh Hazlewood is a pretty good number 11, better than most of India's number 11s. But the old trick of a couple of bouncers followed by a yorker was too smart for poor Josh as he had himself clean bowled to give Bumrah a six for. His figures read as 15.5 - 4 - 33 - 6. Quite stunning, isn't it? He gave India a huge lead which set up a memorable victory for India in Australia. It was certainly one of the best spells of out and out fast bowling from an Indian pacer I have ever seen.
Australia resumed after lunch at 89-4 and Jasprit Bumrah was at it once again. Travis Head had looked good throughout the series and he was looking good once again at the MCG. He was negotiating Bumrah quite well from over the wicket with ball going away. Bumrah decided to come around the wicket and the first ball he bowled was on the money. Boom! A snorter of a full pitched delivery at 143 and the timber was disturbed. Travis Head was very late through the shot as he was done for pace on a slow wicket. Australian captain was the next to go as he edged one to young Rishabh Pant to give Bumrah his fourth wicket. Shami went straight through Patrick Cummins just when everybody was talking about how good a defence he has got. Australia were 8 down with just about 150 on the board. Bumrah came back for another spell as he had his sight set on a five for and a potential six for. We know by now that Nathan Lyon is a credible batsman but even the great AB de Villiers had succumbed to Bumrah's yorker so Lyon wasn't a great deal for Bumrah, was he? A rapid toe crusher was always going to be more than good enough and it was. It hit Lyon flush in front as Australia found themselves 9 down. We have to admit that Josh Hazlewood is a pretty good number 11, better than most of India's number 11s. But the old trick of a couple of bouncers followed by a yorker was too smart for poor Josh as he had himself clean bowled to give Bumrah a six for. His figures read as 15.5 - 4 - 33 - 6. Quite stunning, isn't it? He gave India a huge lead which set up a memorable victory for India in Australia. It was certainly one of the best spells of out and out fast bowling from an Indian pacer I have ever seen.
That was an brilliant performance by Indian team. But overall blog was superb keep going busy.
ReplyDeleteNihar Kelkar
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete