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Stunning Konstas opening salvo in stellar top order show douses Bumrah magic on Boxing Day

By News Update

The entire Australian top four scored half-centuries, including a counterattacking 60 from debutant Sam Konstas, denied Jasprit Bumrah the centre stage on Boxing Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. However, the Indian quick inevitably arrived with a late burst to leave the hosts at 311/6.

‌Brief score: AUS 311/6 (Labuschagne 72, Smith 68* ; Bumrah 21-7-75-3) at Stumps on Day 1

With the MCG under heavy cloud cover when play began, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj delivered a couple of crackling opening overs by extracting prodigious seam and swing movement. However, Sam Konstas kept thinking positively and after a couple of failed attempts, took the attack to the more senior bowler. A scoop for four was followed by reverse scoops for four and six. In the same spell, he repeated his antics by this time striking a four and six down the ground before expertly guiding a trademark Bumrah low full-toss past gully for another boundary. Meanwhile, Khawaja punished anything that ventured onto his pads and the partnership marauded close to 90. Rohit Sharma responded by bringing in Akash Deep and Ravindra Jadeja to slow down the momentum — it worked like a charm as the latter slid one past Konstas’ inside edge to dispatch him for a 65-ball 60. A couple of Marnus Labuschagne boundaries however meant the team cruised to Lunch at 112/1.

The second session began with four maidens and just 22 runs in the first 10 overs. Nonetheless, both batters looked comfortable under the now blue sky and Khawaja brought up his own fifty in typical quiet fashion. The partnership had ticked to 65 when the opener threw away his wicket by pulling a Bumrah short delivery straight to short midwicket. It did little harm for the Baggy Greens’ prospects though with Steve Smith also looking in fine form to rekindle his love story with his protege. The two took the team through to Tea at 176/2 and before long had combined for 83 efficient runs.

A soft dismissal was what brought gloom again Down Under as Marnus stepped down the track to Washington Sundar and launched one down mid-off’s throat. Bumrah added salt to the wounds with an absolute jaffa that nipped under Travis Head’s raised arms and caressed the bails off the stumps. Soon after, the pacer managed to get extra bounce and take Mitch Marsh ‘s stop edge through to Rishabh Pant as Australia fell from 237/2 to 246/5. Alex Carey and Steve Smith scored some quick runs against the old ball against a tired attack late in the day. It took an Akash Deep peach to break another half-century stands as Carey was caught in two minds against a channel delivery and feather-edged one to Pant. Steve Smith remained unbeaten on 68 to end the day with Pat Cummins at 311/6.

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