India ease to second Test victory after remarkable Australia collapse

By Sports Desk February 19, 2023

India dominated Australia on day three of the second Test to win by six wickets after career-best figures from Ravindra Jadeja contributed to the tourists' rapid collapse in the first session.

Australia had appeared well poised as play resumed in Delhi, having edged the first innings by a run and ended the previous day on 61-1.

But hopes of levelling the series swiftly vanished as Pat Cummins' side were all out for 113 by lunch.

A routine chase of 115 was completed before tea, although Jadeja was the obvious star of the show for India with figures of 7-42.

He had removed Usman Khawaja the previous day, but it was Ravichandran Ashwin (3-59) who set in motion a remarkable stretch by having Travis Head (43) caught behind and then trapping Steve Smith.

Smith's partnership of 20 with Marnus Labuschagne would prove Australia's most productive of the day as the number three batsman was the next to go when Jadeja kept the ball low to bowl him for 35.

Ashwin got Matt Renshaw lbw, then Jadeja had Peter Handscomb caught in the slips to signal a drinks break. From the very next ball, the rampant Jadeja bowled Cummins with another low delivery.

Repeated attempts by Australia to sweep played into Jadeja's hands, and he quickly wrapped up the innings with the dismissals of Alex Carey, Nathan Lyon and Matthew Kuhnemann.

The final eight wickets fell for just 28 runs, and India's batsmen quickly capitalised despite losing KL Rahul in the second over.

Rohit Sharma scored 31, matched by Cheteshwar Pujara in an unbeaten innings as the hosts reached 118-4 inside 27 overs for a 2-0 series lead.

Day of joy for Jadeja

Jadeja's previous best figures had seen him take 7 for 48 against England back in December 2016, but he managed to improve on that stunning performance.

Indeed, the bowler needed only 12.1 overs this time – versus 25 against England – and required little help from his team-mates, bowling five of the six batsmen he removed on Sunday.

Milestone for Kohli

India did not need any heroes with the bat, but Virat Kohli was still able to pass a milestone in scoring 20 before he was stumped by Carey.

That short 31-ball innings took him past 25,000 runs for India across Tests, ODIs and T20Is.

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