On Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australian skipper Pat Cummins delivered a stunning spell, showcasing his class and precision. He dismissed KL Rahul, one of India’s dependable batters, with an unplayable delivery that highlighted the bowler’s tactical brilliance. Cummins had already picked up an early wicket and was relentless in his pursuit of another breakthrough. Rahul, who scored on 24 off 42 balls, had shown some resilience but was undone by Cummins’ masterclass.
Pat Cummins’ magic delivery knocks out KL Rahul
Cummins’ delivery to dismiss Rahul was the epitome of seam bowling excellence. The ball was angled in, pitching on a good length on middle and off, and seamed away sharply to hit the top of off stump. The Australian skipper had set Rahul up beautifully over the course of the spell, targeting his pads with deliveries that hinted at lbw. This consistent probing planted doubt in Rahul’s mind, subtly influencing his positioning.
As a result, his front pad was fractionally more towards the leg side, leaving a narrow gap for the ball to sneak through. The delivery itself was near-perfect and left Rahul with no chance. It was a textbook example of how planning, precision, and execution come together to produce a match-defining moment.
Here’s the video:
ABSOLUTE SEED FROM CUMMINS! #AUSvIND | #DeliveredWithSpeed | @nbn_australia pic.twitter.com/zvzvkDyAnb
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 27, 2024
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Australia’s innings on Day 2: Steve Smith’s century and sudden collapse
Australia resumed Day 2 at 311/6 with Steve Smith leading their charge. Smith showcased immense patience, converting his overnight score of 68 into a brilliant 140, combining with Cummins for a vital 100-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Cummins impressed with a gritty 49 before falling to Ravindra Jadeja. The lower order added crucial runs as Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon provided some resistance, but India’s bowlers, particularly Jasprit Bumrah (4/99) and Jadeja (3/78), wrapped up the innings effectively. Australia posted a formidable 474, leaving India with a challenging task to counter their dominance.
Early blows for India in the Boxing Day test match
Chasing Australia’s imposing total, India began their reply cautiously. However, skipper Rohit Sharma fell cheaply for 3, miscuing a pull shot off Cummins. Rahul tried to stabilize the innings with a composed 24 but was also dismissed by Cummins, leaving India at 51/2. Yashasvi Jaiswal showed promise with an unbeaten 29, while Virat Kohli remained at the crease on 1. India are currently trailing by over 400 runs, with the Australian bowlers, led by Cummins’ fiery spell, maintaining a firm grip on the match.
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