Australia level series with dominant win over India
Sacha Pisani
December 18, 2018 04:37 MYT
December 18, 2018 04:37 MYT
Australia returned to winning ways and stayed alive in the series against India after claiming a comprehensive 146-run victory in the second Test.
Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc starred with three wickets apiece in Perth as Australia dominated India to level the four-match series at 1-1 on Tuesday.
India were torn apart on the fifth and final day at Perth Stadium, where the tourists lost 28-5 to be skittled for 140 after an hour of play.
It was Australia's first win in eight Test matches, dating back to their 118-run victory against South Africa in March, to leave the series evenly poised heading into the Boxing Day showdown in Melbourne.
1-1 going into the Boxing Day Test. It doesn't get much bigger! Be there: https://t.co/bRUCcSykGl #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/2hy6jDRgHy — cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 18, 2018
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Aside from Virat Kohli's century, Australia were in control against India as they claimed a confidence-boosting triumph, having endured a difficult 2018 following ball-tampering suspensions to star pair Steve Smith and David Warner following the Cape Town scandal.
India – resuming on 112-5 on day five – would have retained the Border-Gavaskar trophy with victory in Perth but Kohli's men were outplayed on a lively wicket.
Australia wasted little time to bowling out India, Starc (3-46) breaking the key partnership between Hanuma Vihari and Rishabh Pant early on Tuesday by removing Vihari for 28 after Marcus Harris took a catch at bat pad.
A superb diving catch from under-pressure batsman Peter Handscomb off the bowling of Lyon (3-39) – who finished with eight wickets in the match – sent Pant (30) back to the pavilion and reduced the visitors to 137-7.
'YOU BEAUTY!' A blinder from Peter Handscomb this morning!#AUSvIND | @bet365_aus pic.twitter.com/EAtOTAAyrR — cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 18, 2018
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Umesh Yadav (2) followed in the next over when he struggled to cope with a short ball from Starc, who claimed on the caught-and-bowled opportunity.
Australia quick Pat Cummins (2-25) finished the job with quick-fire dismissals of Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah to cap a devastating morning for the home team.