Brilliant India silence Tim’s gift of the Gabb
AUSTRALIA were humiliated at their ultimate cricketing fortress after India sealed one of the greatest comebacks the sport has ever seen.
Tim Paine’s infamous taunt during the previous drawn Test in Sydney, when the Australia captain told the tourists’ Ravi Ashwin, ‘I can’t wait to get you to the Gabba’, backfired in spectacular fashion as India reached a record victory target of 328.
Rishabh Pant hit an unbeaten 89 on day five to inflict the hosts’ first defeat in Brisbane since 1988 as India clinched a 2-1 series win with three wickets in hand and only 18 balls left.
It was a remarkable turnaround for the tourists who recovered from being dismissed for 36 in their first-Test defeat in Adelaide to retain the BorderGavaskar Trophy in a dramatic finale to a pulsating series. ‘This is one of the biggest moments of my life now,’ Pant said. ‘It’s been a dream series. The team management always back me and tells me, “You are a match-winner” and I keep thinking every day that I want to win matches for India. I did it today.’ Without captain Virat Kohli and a whole host of senior players, the tourists needed 324 more runs at the start of play after dismissing Paine’s side for 294 on day four. Player-of-the-series Pat Cummins snared Rohit Sharma cheaply on his way to four for 55, but Cheteshwar Pujara and Shubman Gill put on 114 for the second wicket before Gill fell nine short of a century.
After stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane was caught behind for 24 and Cummins pinned Pujara in front after his 211-ball 56, India could have been forgiven for shutting up shop. But wicketkeeper Pant continued to play with bravery while debutant Washington Sundar added a breezy 22 to kickstart India into action with time running out.
With 39 runs needed off 42 balls Pant moved into Twenty20 mode and he clinched a famous victory by driving Josh Hazlewood to the boundary.
A delighted Rahane said: ‘It really means a lot to us. I don’t know how to describe this victory. I’m just proud of all the boys, each and every individual.’
Meanwhile, Paine admitted Australia need to review how they handle pressure situations.
‘It’s been a bit of a trend that we were found wanting in key moments and completely outplayed by a tough Indian side that fully deserves the win,’ he said. ‘ We need to look forward now. There’s a big series in South Africa coming up. We’ve been outplayed by the better side in this series.’