Watch: Mitchell Starc pins Virat Kohli, SKY lbw with consecutive big-swinging new-ball beauties
Watch: Mitchell Starc ripped out Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav with consecutive new-ball rippers, swinging the ball back in twice for a pair of lbw dismissals.
Defending 188, Australia needed to begin well, and Starc gave them the perfect start, leaving India 16-3, Marcus Stoinis having pinned Ishan Kishan early on.
Kohli came to the crease at the fall of Kishan’s wicket to a raucous reception, but could only manage four off nine. Coming over the wicket, Starc swung the ball back into the right-hander, the ball clearly pitching in line and straightening to hit Kohli. Ravi Shastri, on commentary, suggested there were “two sounds”, but Kohli knew he hadn’t hit it, and knew he was plumb.
The delivery to Suryakumar was a less certain decision, needing a review to overturn it, but if anything, it was a better ball, with the movement more extravagant. Had the No.4’s pad not got in the way, the ball would have crashed into the top of off-stump, having pitched outside off, despite bowling from over the wicket.
That dismissal ended the over, and the hat-trick ball aimed for a repeat, but KL Rahul was equal to the task, driving consummately through the off-side for four. However, Starc was able to see off Shubman Gill too later on to leave the game in the balance.
