Mohammed Siraj completes 50 wickets in Tests after dismissing Nathan Lyon on Day 2 of WTC 2023 Final
The bowlers were finally able to contribute with wickets on Day 2 of the ICC World Test Championship Final, which was finally good news for Indian supporters. Australia had a dominating lead at 327/3 when the day began, but India kept them under 500 and bowled them out for 469. Mohammed Siraj, the Indian seamer, took Nathan Lyon’s wicket to complete his 50 Tests wickets during the inning.
WTC Final, Day 2: Mohammed Siraj completes 50 wickets in Tests after dismissing Nathan Lyon on Day 2
On day two of the World Test Championship final at The Oval in this city, Mohammed Siraj took four wickets to help India mount a strong comeback and dismiss Australia for 469 in 121.3 overs in their first innings.
With Steve Smith scoring 121, his 31st Test century, and Travis Head reaching 150 for the fourth time in his career to top score with 163, Australia started day two with a score of 327/3. After being reduced to 76/3, the pair had a huge 285-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
On a ground with some movement and diverse bounce, India, who only got three wickets on a dismal day one, mounted a valiant comeback to pick up the final seven wickets and bowl out Australia for 469.
With 4/108, a tenacious Siraj emerged as India’s top bowler, becoming the 42nd member of the team to record 50 Test wickets. Mohammed Shami and Shardul Thakur, both pacers, both grabbed two wickets, and Ravindra Jadeja also claimed one victim.
Steve Smith’s anchoring innings finally came to an end
Siraj bowled Smith twice in quick succession to start the day, and Smith brilliantly flicked both balls to achieve his eighth century in England and 31st test century.
On the other hand, Head, trying for four off Mohammed Shami, reached 150 with his signature cut on the backfoot.
Siraj and Shami would slant short balls in his direction, and Head would quickly draw them comfortably for two boundaries. When Head attempted to go over to utilise Siraj’s speed but gloved the pull to KS Bharat, India’s strategy to bowl short to Head eventually paid off as the huge 285-run stand for the fourth wicket came to an end with the left-hander reaching 163.
India scored one and then two when Cameron Green fell after nicking to second slip and taking a quick catch in front of Shami’s face. They gained additional success four overs later when Smith chopped on his stumps off an outswinger.
Amidst all this, Alex Carey found boundaries thrice, one of which came off a streaky inside edge. After Australia crossed 400-mark, Mitchell Starc was beaten by Siraj twice. He was then run-out while going for a quick single, thanks to substitute fielder Axar Patel’s sharp one-handed direct hit from mid-off.
The second session of the day began with some traces of variable bounce being seen. Carey clipped off Shami for four, before taking three boundaries off him twice through leg-side and one past mid-off — in the 113th over. He went on to launch Ravindra Jadeja over long-on for six, taking Australia above 450.
But Jadeja bounced back immediately as Carey missed a straighter delivery on reverse-sweep and was trapped lbw, ending his knock at 48 and his 51-run stand with captain Pat Cummins for the eighth wicket. Mohammed Siraj rattled Nathan Lyon’s off-stump to pick his 50th Test wicket and had Cummins caught at extra cover to end Australia’s innings.
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