GUWAHATI, Jan 3: India’s batting woes in the Test series against Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy continued as the visitors were bundled out for a paltry 185 runs in their first innings in the fifth and final Test of the series at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
At the end of the first day’s play, Australia were 9/1 having lost the wicket of opener Usman Khawaja (2), and trail India’s first innings score by 176 runs.
Earlier in the morning, stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah won the toss and elected to bat first. But the dismal form of the Indian batters continued as the visitors kept losing wickets at regular intervals before folding up for just 185 runs in 72.2 overs.
Rishabh Pant top scored for India making 40 (98) while Ravindra Jadeja, with whom he stitched 48 runs for the fifth wicket, made 26 (95).
Bumrah made a breezy 17-ball 22 as India slipped to yet another below-par performance.
Scott Boland picked up 4 wickets for the hosts while Starc took three, Cummins scalped two and Lyon took one wicket.
Australia lead the five-Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1.
India had won the first test at Perth, registering their biggest test victory over Australia in Australia by defeating the hosts by 295 runs.
Rohit’s men, however, lost the second Test at Adelaide as Australia won by 10 wickets.
The rain-truncated third test at the Gabba in Brisbane had ended in a draw while the hosts had the last laugh at Melbourne, defeating India by 184 runs.
Brief Scores
India – 185 all out in 72.2 overs
Australia – 9/1 in 3 overs
