Twitter Reactions: Australia reclaim Border-Gavaskar Trophy after 10 years, book WTC final berth

Australia reclaim Border-Gavaskar Trophy after 10 years, book WTC final berth. (Photo Source: Disney+ Hotstar)

Australia won the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1 after emerging victorious by six wickets in the New Year’s Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Sunday, January 5. The World Test Champions finished the match in the second session on Day 3 to reclaim the coveted trophy after 10 years.

Earlier in the day, India had a disastrous outing with the bat as they added just 16 runs to their overnight score and lost their remaining four wickets. Australian skipper Pat Cummins took the wickets of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar before Scott Boland made light work of the tailenders. Boland finished with impressive figures of 6/45 to add to his four-for in the first innings. Meanwhile, Pat Cummins contributed with three wickets.

The tourists were bowled out for 157 after taking their second-innings lead to 161 runs. Chasing the tricky target, Australia got off to a flier thanks to Sam Konstas. The teenager scored a quickfire 22 and added 39 runs with Usman Khawaja in just 3.5 overs. Konstas got out playing a rash shot against Prasidh Krishna.

The Karnataka pacer went on to pick up the wickets of Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith in the first session to keep India’s hopes alive. However, Australia came out with a much better game plan after the Lunch break to thwart Krishna and Co. India were severely handicapped by the absence of the injured Jasprit Bumrah, who watched proceedings from the dressing room.

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After the Lunch break, Mohammed Siraj accounted for the wicket of Khawaja, who made a 45-ball 41. Travis Head, who finished as the highest run-scorer in the five-match series, came out to bat when Australia were precariously placed at 58/3. He added partnerships of 46 and 58* with Usman Khawaja and Beau Webster, respectively, to take his team home. Head finished unbeaten on 34 off 38 balls, while Webster remained not out of 39 off 34 deliveries.

Here’s how ‘X’ users reacted to Australia’s win at SCG: