Mitchell Starc takes four wickets as India collapse at 244

PTI, Dec 18, 2020, 10:18 AM IST

Adelaide: India’s tail-enders contributed precious little as the first innings folded at 244 early on the second day of the first Day/Night Test against Australia here on Friday.

Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins sent the visitors packing for a paltry 11 runs with the duo claiming two wickets each in 19 balls since start of the day’s play.

Continuing from 233/6, Wriddhiman Saha and Ravichandran Ashwin prepped for a long day ahead, but Cummins nailed Ashwin on the third ball of the day. What followed was the Indian tail falling like nine pins

Mitchell Starc (4/53 in 21 overs) and Pat Cummins (3/48 in 21.1 overs) dismissed the last four batsmen.

In fact, India lost seven wickets for 56 runs starting with Virat Kohli’s run-out engineered by a poor judgement call from vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane.

On Friday, Ravichandran Ashwin (15) got one to rear up from length as Cummins got his second wicket and India’s seventh in the first over of the day.

Wriddhiman Saha (9) also didn’t trouble the scorers getting out on his overnight tally chasing a wide delivery from Starc.

Umesh Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah hit a boundary each but that was just a tail-ender’s bravado as the innings folded in just 25 balls on the second day.

If one goes by how pink ball matches at Adelaide have panned out, India have scored at least 75 runs less than what should have been a fighting first innings total.

In the end, Kohli’s dismissal cost them dearly.