Perth: India crumbled in the face of Australia’s remarkable metamorphosis and crashed to a 146-run defeat in the second Test here Tuesday, surrendering a rare hard-earned ascendancy in a series Down Under.
The hosts levelled the four-match series 1-1 after India were bowled out for 140 runs in 56 overs in their second innings on the fifth and final day.
Resuming at overnight score of 112/5, India lost their last five wickets for just 28 runs and it was all over in just over an hour of play. This was also India’s first Test victory since the ball-tampering scandal broke out in South Africa earlier this year.
Having won the opening game by 31 runs to go in front a week ago, India had been talked up as a threat coming into the capital of Western Australia, but they wilted as the pace-spin duo of Mitchell Starc (3/46) and Nathan Lyon (3/39) worked in tandem at the Optus Stadium. Josh Hazlewood (2/24) and Pat Cummins (2/25) are the other successful bowlers for the home side.
Overnight batsmen Hanuma Vihari (28) and Rishabh Pant (30) had tried to continue their partnership, and batted out for only six overs before the former was the first to be dismissed on the day. The Hyderabadi all-rounder lobbed a simple catch off Starc to short point.
Wicket-keeper batsman too didn’t last long as he tried to play a few more attacking strokes holing to Peter Handscomb at mid on off the bowling of Lyon. With both the batsmen out it was just a matter of time for the hosts as Umesh Yadav (2), Ishant Sharma (0) and Jasprit Bumrah (0) perished quickly to help Australia to their first win since March.
India surely missed a trick in not playing a specialist spinner, something that was admitted by one of their own at the end of fourth day’s play. India skipper Virat Kohli however put up a brave front at the post-match ceremony.
“As a team I think we played well in patches which we can hold onto. Australia played much better than us with the bat. 330 on that pitch we felt was a bit too much. They deserved to win,” Kohli said.
Kohli’s counterpart Tim Paine said, “It was a difficult Test, both games were tough. Two really competitive sides and two really good fast bowling attacks. It’s been hard work for batsmen and it was a great contest, because the ball was flying through here.”
However, Cricket Australia (CA) has announced an unchanged 13-member squad for the remaining two Tests at Melbourne and Sydney. The third match starts in Melbourne December 26.
Ishant, Jadeja argue on field
Perth: Tension flared up between teammates Ishant Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja during a mid-game break on the fourth day of the second Test between India and Australia here. Ishant and Jadeja were engaged in a heated discussion before two other teammates, including Mohammed Shami, separated them. While Ishant played in the first two Tests, Jadeja has been limited to drinks duty and substitute fielding at the Optus Stadium here.
