India’s WTC hopes crushed as Australia triumph at SCG | The Express Tribune

Australia ended a decade-long wait to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, defeating India by six wickets in the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.

The victory not only sealed the series for Australia but also secured their place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa at Lord’s in June.

Chasing a fourth-innings target of 162 on a tricky SCG surface, Australia wrapped up the match in just three days. Debutant Beau Webster played a composed knock of 39* to guide his team to victory after Usman Khawaja provided a steady foundation with 41.

Scott Boland was the star of the match, claiming a career-best 10-wicket haul. His second-innings figures of 6-45 complemented his 4-31 in the first innings, marking a stunning performance. Boland’s relentless accuracy and ability to extract movement troubled India throughout the match, earning him widespread acclaim.

India’s batting faltered under pressure, folding for 157 in their second innings. Rishabh Pant offered resistance with a counter-attacking 61, but the rest of the line-up failed to cope with the probing spells from Boland and Pat Cummins, who chipped in with key wickets.

Jasprit Bumrah’s absence loomed large for India. The pace spearhead was sidelined on the second day due to back spasms and did not bowl in Australia’s second innings. Bumrah had been India’s standout performer on this tour, and his inability to lead the attack in the series decider left a glaring void.

Australia capitalised on wayward new-ball spells from Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna in their second innings. Though Prasidh managed three wickets, including the vital dismissal of Steven Smith for 33, the lack of consistency from the rest of the attack hurt India’s chances.

This result pushed Australia to 63.73% of possible points in the WTC standings, ensuring their qualification for the final. India ended their campaign at 50%, missing the chance to compete for the coveted mace.

Pat Cummins’ side will now face Temba Bavuma’s South Africa at Lord’s from 11 June, with both teams vying for Test cricket’s ultimate prize.

“To secure the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and a spot in the WTC final is a testament to the hard work of the entire squad,” Cummins said after the match.

India, on the other hand, will reflect on missed opportunities and the challenges posed by injuries in this series. Skipper Rohit Sharma acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, stating, “We needed to be at our best against a strong Australian side, but unfortunately, we couldn’t deliver when it mattered most.”

Australia will next tour Sri Lanka for a two-Test series, while India will look to regroup ahead of their upcoming assignments.