Lead by Virat Kohli, India ended their 10-year wait of winning a Test in Australia with this win in Adelaide. Australia resumed play at 104 for 4 on Day 5 but were bowled out for just 291 while chasing a 323-run target in the second innings. The inexperience of the Aussies in the absence of Steve Smith and David Warner was exposed.
Adelaide/New Delhi: For the first time in history, India won the first Test match in a series Down Under, registering a comprehensive 31-run win over Australia in Adelaide, taking a 1-0 lead in the four-match Test series. The last time India had won a Test in Australia was back in 2008. It was at the WACA in Perth under the captaincy of Anil Kumble.
THAT IS IT! #TeamIndia has done it! Another glorious chapter added to our love affair with Adelaide. Got close in the end, but India win by 31 runs and lead the series 1-0 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/hmW1Lla2q8
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 10, 2018
Lead by Virat Kohli, India ended their 10-year wait of winning a Test in Australia with this win in Adelaide. Australia resumed play at 104 for 4 on Day 5 but were bowled out for just 291 while chasing a 323-run target in the second innings. The inexperience of the Aussies in the absence of Steve Smith and David Warner was exposed.
Ishant Sharma picked the first wicket of the day when he dismissed Travis Head with a brilliant bouncer in the 57th over, following which Marsh added 41 runs for the sixth wicket with Tim Paine until Marsh nicked one behind the wickets off Bumrah's bowling. Paine was joined by Pat Cummins at the crease and the pair added 31 runs for the seventh wicket. Again, Bumrah struck as Paine edged one into Pant's gloves. While a young Pant created the record of most dismissals in a Test in Australia with 10 dismissals in the match, Bumrah was, no doubt, India's best bowler as he bowled with pace and hit a beautiful length.
Cummins and Mitchell Starc scored a valuable 41-run stand for the eighth wicket. They were dismissed after contributing 28 runs each.
It was almost impossible for the hosts to chase 323, having managed to chase down a 200-plus total only once in their Adelaide history — in 1902.
With this historic win, India has become the first team from Asia to win a Test match in South Africa, England and Australia in one calendar year.
Last Updated Dec 10, 2018, 11:57 AM IST