IND vs AUS: Mohammed Siraj completes 50 wickets in Tests after dismissing Nathan Lyon on Day 2 of WTC 2023 Final

The ICC World Test Championship Final Day 2 finally had some good news for Indian fans as the bowlers were finally able to chip in with wickets. After Australia started the day in a commanding position at 327/3, India managed to keep them under 500 and bundled them out for 469. During the innings, Indian seamer Mohammed Siraj also achieved the landmark of 50 wickets in Test cricket.

He made Nathan Lyon his 50th victim as he destroyed his stumps during the second session of the day. The right-arm seamer further picked up the wicket of Pat Cummins getting him caught out at extra cover to end Australia’s innings on 469. The 29-year-old was the pick of the bowlers for India as he finished with figures of 4/108 while Mohammed Shami (2/122) and Shardul Thakur (2/83) picked up two wickets each.

Earlier, Australia were in full command on Day 1, courtesy of a massive 285-run stand between Steve Smith and Travis Head. The duo joined together at the crease with the score on 76/3 during the second session and took the innings forward with their brilliant stand. Head played a counter-attacking knock as he managed to find boundaries all across the ground. The southpaw completed his fifty off 60 balls and later completed his hundred in 106 balls becoming the first batter to score a hundred in a WTC final.

Smith and Head frustrate India with a 285-run stand

At the other end, Steve Smith played second fiddle to his partner and kept on piling the misery on his favourite opposition. The 34-year-old scored his ninth hundred against India and also completed 2000 runs against them in Test cricket.

Head went on to score a sensational 163 off just 174 balls with the help of 25 fours and a six in his innings while Smith scored 121. Alex Carey played a handy knock of 48 (69) and helped his side cross the 450-run mark batting with the tail. Meanwhile, India have an uphill task at hand to reply with a big total in reply to Australia’s huge total after losing openers, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill early.