Australia Lead by 11 Runs Over India After Day Two Dinner Break at Adelaide Test
Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head played pivotal knocks to give Australia an 11-run lead over India, reaching 191/4 in 59 overs at the dinner break on day two of the second Test at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
The session saw a dramatic shift in momentum. Initially, India had the upper hand, with Jasprit Bumrah striking twice in quick succession. However, Labuschagne, who had been struggling for form, found his rhythm to score 64, sharing a crucial 67-run partnership with Head, who was unbeaten on 53 at his home ground.
With Mitchell Marsh, who is yet to get off the mark, joining Head at the crease, Australia will look to extend their lead further, especially with India’s change bowlers not finding much success before the arrival of the second new ball.
The first session saw Nathan McSweeney adding just one run to his overnight total of 38 before being dismissed by Bumrah, who delivered a perfect ball that swung in slightly, finding McSweeney’s outside edge for Rishabh Pant to take the catch. Bumrah struck again soon after, dismissing Steve Smith for just two with a catch down the leg side.
From that point onward, Labuschagne took charge, capitalizing on straighter deliveries from the Indian bowlers. He produced a series of elegant shots, including two boundaries off Harshit Rana and another through extra cover off Mohammad Siraj, while surviving an LBW appeal from Siraj.
Travis Head, eager to get going, joined the attack with a boundary off Bumrah, followed by a stunning six off Ravichandran Ashwin. Labuschagne reached his 21st Test half-century from 114 balls and, together with Head, dominated the 51st over, taking 17 runs off Rana.
After Labuschagne’s dismissal for 64, caught off Nitish Kumar Reddy, Head continued his assault, sweeping Ashwin for six and pulling Siraj for four. Head reached his 18th Test fifty off 63 balls, further strengthening Australia’s position as they look to build on their lead.
Brief Scores:
India 180 all out in 44.1 overs
Australia 191/4 in 59 overs (Marnus Labuschagne 64, Travis Head 53 not out; Jasprit Bumrah 3-23, Nitish Kumar Reddy 1-18)
Australia leads by 11 runs.
