Australia regain Border-Gavaskar Trophy, arrange WTC last date with SA

Australia 181 (Webster 57, Prasidh 3-42, Siraj 3-51) and 162 for 4 (Khawaja 41, Webster 39*, Head 34*, Prasidh 3-65) beat India 185 (Pant 40, Boland 4-31, Starc 3-49) and 157 (Pant 61, Boland 6-45, Cummins 3-44) by six wickets

Australia regained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the silverware that had eluded them for a decade, and confirmed their spot within the World Check Championship (WTC) last alongside South Africa, after ending off India inside three days on the SCG.

The goal was a considerable one for Australia, particularly on this spicy SCG floor, nevertheless it did seem a complete lot smaller when Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna sprayed the brand new ball round. The pair conceded 12 runs through wides and byes down the leg facet within the first two overs. Although Prasidh tightened up and took three wickets, together with that of Steven Smith, Bumrah’s absence hung like Coleridge’s albatross round India’s neck.

Boland had began the day with a maiden and continued to stalk each the perimeters by hitting an ideal size. He had Siraj caught at first slip and castled Bumrah within the fortieth over to wrap up India’s innings. Boland then, fittingly, held the ball aloft and led Australia off the sphere, with the SCG crowd giving him a rousing reception.

His captain Cummins had earlier accounted for Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. Jadeja had been dropped by Smith within the slips on 6 on day two, nevertheless it price Australia simply seven runs, with Cummins going a lot fuller to kiss Jadeja’s outdoors edge. He then nipped one by way of Washington’s gate to reveal India’s tail to Boland.

Australia capitalised on the wayward new-ball bowling from Siraj and Krishna, operating away to 39 for no loss within the fourth over. Prasidh offered India with the breakthrough when he had Sam Konstas miscuing a slog to mid-off for 22 off 17 balls.

After the second day’s play, Prasidh spoke of how he shifted from his inventory again of a size plan to a a lot fuller one after a chat with the analyst. Nevertheless, on Sunday, with the more durable, newer ball, he gleaned extra bounce and seam motion along with his pure size. After smacking Marnus Labuschagne on his elbow, Prasidh had him steering a catch to gully.

India needed to wait till after lunch to eliminate Usman Khawaja. The opener misjudged Siraj’s size, bottom-edging a pull to Pant for 41 off 45 balls. India felt that they have been on to one thing after that. Siraj roared whereas Virat Kohli, who stood in as captain, charged in direction of his bowler from the slips and animatedly pumped his fist.

On Sunday, Webster struck an unbeaten 39 off 34 balls and offered the coup de grâce when he stepped out to Washington and pumped him straight of mid-off for 4. Australia chased down 162 in 27 overs.

Prasidh and Siraj bowled 24 of the primary 25 overs within the chase. Their solely respite – apart from a lunch break – got here when Australia have been three hits away from victory. Jadeja did not bowl in any respect within the last innings and Washington bowled only one over, bringing India’s choice into sharp focus as soon as once more. Whereas Australia had immense depth of their assault, India lacked it and Bumrah’s damage solely compounded their troubled tour of Australia.