Chasing their first-ever Test series win in Australia, India made an impressive start to the four-match series by beating the hosts by 31 runs in the opening Test at the Adelaide Oval on Monday, reports The Indian Express.
On the fifth day, Australia stretched India all the way but couldn’t get past the 323 run target which would have been the first successful chase at the venue since 1902.
Australia were bundled out for 291 in an extended post-lunch session to go 0-1 down in the series. This is the first time India have won an opening Test in Australia and just their sixth overall.
Rishabh Pant finished the Test with 11 catches between his gloves to go past MS Dhoni (9) and then Wriddhiman Saha who had taken 10 earlier in the year against South Africa.
Resuming from 186/6 at lunch, Australia made a dreadful start to lose well-set skipper Tim Paine for 41 on just the seventh ball after the break. After a confident knock until then, Paine perished to a Jasprit Bumrah bouncer. The short delivery had Paine going for the pull but was hurried into the shot due to the pace only to manage a top-edge. Pant ran across to his left and held on to the skier for Australia’s seventh.
Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins frustrated India with the 41 run stand for the eighth wicket. As Cummins held fort at one end, Starc played some confident strokes - going after balls that came outside the off stump. And it was one outside off that proved to be his undoing. In the 101st over, with the required total dropping under 100 runs, the Aussie seamer went after Mohammed Shami only to feather it behind to Pant.
The Australian tail stitched together another stand - this time between Cummins and Nathan Lyon - worth 31 runs before Bumrah struck to dismiss the former. Just as the duo looked threatening and started to give India some reason for concern, Bumrah eked out a thick edge from Cummins with the ball flying to Virat Kohli at first slip who took the catch down his throat.
The job was complete in an extended post-lunch session, with tea just five minutes, when R Ashwin’s patience was rewarded. Having bowled 52.4 overs and going 33.4 overs without success, Ashwin got the clincher to dismiss Josh Hazlewood. Just as Australia looked like they were headed for an unlikely win, Ashwin looped up the ball in the air and Hazlewood went for the drive to give away an edge which was plucked by KL Rahul at second slip.
In the opening session, starting from an overnight total of 104/4, Travis Head-Shaun Marsh partnership lasted under eight overs before India forced a breakthrough with the old Kookaburra ball. Head (14) was the first to exit, with Ishant Sharma bowling a sharp bouncer that followed the left-hander and left him no room. The ball looped up to Ajinkya Rahane stationed at gully where he made no mistake.
Marsh took over the responsibility from then on and scored his first half-century in the fourth innings of a Test off 146 balls. It was also his 10th Test half-century overall. He looked comfortable at the crease all morning, but Bumrah removed him after the drinks’ break. The big moment came as the ball moved away just a tad and Marsh gave the slightest of edges to be caught behind to Pant in the 73rd over.
Following Marsh’s exit, Cummins helped Paine, although he had a few close encounters in the 74th over off R Ashwin. India wasted a DRS review when they thought he had edged it to the fielder at forward short leg. Four balls later, a loud appeal for caught at short leg was turned down by the third umpire with Cummins reviewing it successfully this time.
The second Test begins on December 14 at the new stadium in Perth. It will be followed by the third Test on Boxing Day in Melbourne and the series will end with the fourth Test in Sydney starting January 3.