Australia wins Sydney Test and Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25

Australia won the fifth match of the 5-Test series against India by 6 wickets in Sydney. With this, it won the series 3-1. The hosts succeeded in winning a Test series against India after 10 years. It has won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after 2014-15. Australia made a strong comeback after losing the Perth Test. It defeated the Indian team in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. With this victory, the Australian team has confirmed its place in the final of the World Test Championship 2025. At the same time, India is out of the title round. Australia will face South Africa in June at Lord’s in England.

Australia had got a target of 162 runs to win. On the third day of the match on Sunday (5 January), acting captain Jasprit Bumrah batted, but he could not bowl. Due to back problem, the star pacer, who took 32 wickets in the series, had to sit in the dressing room. In his absence, the Indian bowling did not look disciplined. Prasidh Krishna and Mohammad Siraj took wickets, but conceded runs continuously. Due to this the team had to face defeat.

Earlier, India had scored 185 runs in the first innings and 157 runs in the second innings. At the same time, Australia had scored 181 runs in the first innings. India got a lead of 4 runs. In this way its lead was 161 runs and the Australian team got a target of 162 runs. Australia won the match by scoring 162 runs for the loss of 4 wickets.

In the absence of Bumrah, Prasidh impressed by taking three wickets but Australia won thanks to the innings of Beau Webster, Travis Head and Usman Khawaja. Krishna dismissed openers Sam Constas (22), Marnus Labuschagne (06) and Steve Smith (04) in quick succession. Mohammad Siraj got Khawaja caught by Rishabh Pant. Khawaja scored 41 runs off 45 balls. Webster, who made his debut in this match, remained unbeaten after scoring 39 runs off 34 balls. He had also saved the team by scoring 57 runs in the first innings. Travis Head remained unbeaten after scoring 34 runs off 38 balls.

Scott Boland wreaked havoc

Earlier, Scott Boland (six wickets for 45 runs) and captain Pat Cummins (three wickets for 44 runs) bundled out India for just 157 runs in 39.5 overs in the second innings. Excluding Rishabh Pant’s 61 and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 22 runs, the other nine players collectively contributed 74 runs. The Indian team lost its remaining four wickets by adding just 16 runs in the morning session.