Marnus Labuschagne was just one ball older when Virat Kohli dropped him. He was too eager to take it low to his left but chucked the ball while claiming the catch. Following that incident, Australia’s number three batter went on to face almost 50 more deliveries. While wickets were falling from the other end, Labuschagne held to his own and frustrated the Indian bowlers up until Mohammed Siraj came back for his second spell.
Mohammed Siraj makes up for Kohli’s mess
Mohammed Siraj sent back Mitchell Marsh in the 17th over when KL Rahul claimed an excellent catch to send Australia reeling 38/5. In the 21st over, Siraj produced a masterful piece of seam bowling to dismiss Marnus Labuschagne for just 2 runs. Bowling a full delivery that pitched just outside off stump, Siraj got the ball to jag back in sharply off the seam. Labuschagne, attempting to play a flick shot, was beaten by the movement and struck on the pad, leading to the umpire raising his finger for LBW. Though Labuschagne reviewed the decision hoping the ball might miss leg stump, ball-tracking confirmed it would crash into the stumps.
The dismissal brought an end to Labuschagne’s torturous stay at the crease, where he faced 52 deliveries for his 2 runs. His innings was a struggle throughout – he was dropped on zero, got beaten numerous times, and took several blows during his time at the crease. The wicket was a fitting end to a testing spell from Siraj, who exploited the conditions brilliantly to outfox Labuschagne.
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