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Kolkata Knight Riders

about 2 years ago

Gone with the wind – that’s how India’s second innings could be described on the third Day of the Adelaide Pink Ball Test. The visitors registered their lowest ever Test score of 36 in the history of Test cricket (previous being 42) and conceded a 0-1 lead to Australia, who barely broke a sweat to achieve the set 90-run target with 8 wickets to spare in the four-match series.

None of the Indians could strike double figures with the bat in the second innings. It was raining wickets at Adelaide and the Indian fans were left with moist eyes as Pat Cummins (4/21) and Josh Hazlewood (5/8) stormed through the batting line-up. The first one in line of the Aussie tempest was Jasprit Bumrah, the night watchman, falling to Cummins for 2 runs. The World No. 1 bowler struck again within a matter of three overs as Cheteshwar Pujara returned to the hut for a duck. 

Hazlewood looked merciless as well, picking up his first two wickets without conceding a run. The pace duo kept the Indian batters on the edge at all times with razor-sharp line and length. Hazlewood eliminated Mayank Agarwal (9) and Ajinkya Rahane (0) in the same over with deliveries that looked almost identical. 

Both balls swerved in and then straightened late to take the outside edge and Tim Paine, who had quite a field day taking five catches behind the stumps, made no mistake to send both the batters back.

Hopes were pinned on skipper Virat Kohli to take his team out of the trouble. But Cummins ensured he got the better of Kohli (4) once again to scalp his 150th Test wicket. Kohli’s slice off the wide fuller length delivery flew to Cameron Green at Gully who faltered a bit initially but eventually held on. 

With 6 down for just 19 runs, India were staring at their lowest score ever in Test cricket and there was hardly much Wriddhiman Saha (4), R Ashwin (0) or Hanuma Vihari (8) could do to stabilise the sinking ship. Hazlewood completed his 200th Test wicket milestone as Ashwin made his way back to the dugout.

At 36, Md Shami suffered a major blow on his right arm while trying to dodge a short ball from Cummins and had to retire hurt, thus bringing curtains down on India’s innings.

Watch all nine Indian wickets here:

Two wickets fell for the Aussies, but they eventually made short work of the target, with Joe Burns hitting a half century and helping the hosts sail to an easy victory.

India next take on Australia in the Boxing Day Test that starts on December 26 at Melbourne Cricket Ground.