Australia seal first Test since tampering row
perth — Australia cleaned up India’s lower order with a barrage of hostile bowling before lunch on the fifth day to secure a series-levelling, confidence-boosting 146-run victory in the second Test on Tuesday.
Having set India a daunting 287 runs to win on a menacing Perth Stadium pitch, Australia dismissed the tourists for 140 midway through the first session to win an engrossing, low-scoring contest.
Australia’s wickets were shared around with Man-of-the-Match Nathan Lyon (3-39), who is fast becoming something of a national hero, and quick Mitchell Starc (346) the pick of the bowlers.
It was Australia’s first win since March 5 in Durban — before the damaging ball-tampering scandal in South Africa that rocked the nation.
It was sweet revenge for Australia after a nail-biting 31-run defeat in the series-opener at Adelaide Oval
and ensured captain Tim Paine his first win in five Tests as skipper. “As a group we’re relieved, it’s been hard work,” Paine said.
“The first two Tests in this series have been tough. It’s been a bruising Test match. To get a win like that against the number one Test team is going to give us a huge boost of confidence.”
Kohli defended the selection of Yadav, who claimed 10 wickets in his last Test against the West Indies in October, even though off-spinner Lyon dominated for Australia with 8-106 through his targeting of
the expansive rough patches.
“If you see the rough, it didn’t have much assistance. Just the pace on the ball that Lyon bowled with ... that’s how he got the wickets,” Kohli said.“We thought a fast bowler was going to be more productive and more helpful.”
The Test was the first at the new 60,000-seat stadium located in Burswood but crowds were disappointing especially when fierce heat blighted the early part of the match. The series shifts to the traditional Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. —