Floodlights stage embarrassment for Australia in the Adelaide Test

While India and Australia were given plenty of time to prepare for the day-night Test, it seems like Adelaide Oval needed some more. With a heated battle ongoing at the turf in the second match of the Border Gavaskar Trophy, darkness engulfed the arena twice. Harshit Rana, the bowler in action as the floodlights fumbled twice, looked visibly miffed at the interruption. India were bowled out for 180 as Mitchell Starc picked a fifer with the pink ball, and the team departed well before twilight on the opening day. However, the onset of twilight brought unprecedented challenges for the players.

Harshit Rana left irritated as darkness takes over Adelaide Oval twice

The floodlights played an additional trigger to an already struggling India in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The visitors were scheduled to face their most dreaded challenge early in the five-match series as the second Test emerged as a day-night affair in Adelaide. India’s batting woes were laid bare as Mitchell Starc rattled through the lineup to remind India, read Jaiswal, of his pace capabilities. With Jaiswal picking a golden duck, India were bundled out for a paltry 180 as all-rounder Nitish Reddy solely saved the grace of the batting order with a bold 42 down the order.

As India came to the bowling attack, the visitors met a hurdle as the floodlights went off twice in quick succession. The incident unfolded during the 18th over of Australia’s innings after Bumrah dismissed Usman Khawaja. As Harshit Rana extended the attack against Nathan McSweeney and Marnus Labuschagne at the crease, Adelaide Oval fell into darkness. The first interruption occurred after the second delivery, causing a brief pause in play that lasted only two minutes before the action resumed. However, the situation took a turn when the lights fumbled again following the fourth ball of the same over.

Lights off at the Adelaide Oval. 😄pic.twitter.com/Sy3SZr7khV

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 6, 2024

Interrupted twice in a single over, the young pacer expressed his displeasure at the happenings as he gestured to question the proceedings. While India were kept on the backfoot, Rana was seen troubling Labuschagne and McSweeney, as he followed his lethal pacers with long stares and sledging. Virat Kohli also joined the tirade in order to break the Kangaroos one way or another. However, Australia outright held the honours on Day 1, scalping all ten wickets and batting at 86 for 1 at stumps on the opening day of the second Test.