Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21: Australia draw first blood against India in 1st Day-Night Test

India are taking on Australia in their first Test for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, in Adelaide. India are the defending champions, having won it during their last visit, in 2018-19. They are off to a tough start to the series, despite getting off to a promising commencement initially.

The Australians came up with a resounding performance on Day 3, as they outplayed India in the first day-night Test, in Adelaide, on Saturday, winning by eight wickets. The win allowed the hosts to draw first blood in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, held by India, currently, following their win during their last visit, in 2018-19.

Earlier, India had won the toss and elected to bat first, on Day 1, as they went on to post a score of 244. In reply, Australia were bowled out for an average score of 191, courtesy Ravichandran Ashwin's 4/55, as India led by 53 runs. The Indians were 9/1 at stumps on Day 2.

As they began Day 3 at the overnight score, night-watchman Jasprit Bumrah departed for a couple to Cummins at the score of 15. He was quickly followed by Cheteshwar Pujara (0), Mayank Agarwal (9) and Ajinkya Rahane (0), at the same score.

As the Indians were reeling at 15/5, it was evident that they were in for a fight. At the score of 19, skipper Virat Kohli, too, fell for mere four to Cummins. Just seven runs later, wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha (4) and all-rounder Ashwin (0) followed.

Fellow all-rounder, Hanuma Vihari (8) was the final man to fall at the score of 31, to Josh Hazlewood. Meanwhile, it was at the score of 36, when Mohammed Shami injured his wrist, following a bouncer from Cummins. While the physio attended him, the injury looked worse than initially expected, as the Indians were left with no choice, but to retire him out, thereby bring their innings to an end, which happened to be their lowest Test innings score of 36/9.

As for the Australian bowlers, it was Hazlewood, who finished with figures of 5/8. He was duly supported by Cummins, who raked up 4/21, while seamer Mitchell Starc was only the other bowler utilised, as the Australians bowled 21.2 overs.

As the Australians came out to bat, the Indians were hopeful of getting a couple of early breakthroughs to pile instant pressure on the hosts. However, the openers, Matthew Wade and Joe Burns stayed unbeaten on 14 and zero, respectively, as they went into the dinner break, with 15 runs on the board, needing 75 more to win.

As Australia resumed following the dinner break, Burns and Wade did well, contributing 70 runs for the opening wicket, before the latter's departure for 33, off a run-out. Marnus Labushagne followed him, just 12 runs later, as he was caught by Mayank off Ashwin, for mere six.

Nonetheless, it was already too late, as the pair of Bruns and Steve Smith steered the hosts towards a comfortable eight-wicket win. The former also brought up his sixth Test half-century in the process, as he hit the winning runs via a six.

As for the Indian bowlers, they used three. Umesh and Bumrah were the pacers, while Ashwin was the only spinner, who provided the sole breakthrough. Meanwhile, seamer Shami could not bowl, owing to the wrist injury he suffered while batting.
Brief scores: India 244 & 36/9 (Myanak 9; Hazlewood 5/8, Cummins 4/21) lost to Australia 191 and 15/0 (Burns 51*; Ashwin 1/16) by eight wickets.