AUSTRALIA MASSACRE INDIA IN FIRST TEST
Steve O’Keefe destroys India, earns Oz a 333-run win
India capitulated for the second time in the match to face their first Test defeat of the season. It also broke their 19-match unbeaten streak in Tests. The hosts were all-out for 107 in 33.5 overs in their second innings to face 333 runs humiliating defeat inside three days of the first Test against Australia at Maharashtra cricket stadium here on Saturday.
The sizeable weekend crowd couldn’t spur up the Virat Kohli-led side as they conceded 142 runs in the extended first session (41 overs) before taking the remaining six wickets to bowl out Australia. Later they came up with yet another poor batting display on a dry turning track.
Steeve O’Keefe repeated his first innings show of 6/35 (twelve wickets over all) and Nathan Lyon picked 4/53 as the two Australian spinners ran through the Indian innings in no time.
Steve Smith showed how to bat on that wicket by scoring his maiden hundred in India to propel Australia to 285 with an overall lead of 440 runs. He mixed caution with aggression to score 109 runs in 204 balls with eleven boundaries.
Chasing an improbable target of 441, India had a scratchy start as Murali Vijay, despite getting a life, didn’t last long as O’Keefe trapped him in front in his first over. KL Rahul stayed back to a low ball from Lyon in next over as both the openers were back in first six overs, eating up both the reviews.
Indian players were playing for the turn and Kohli (13) did the same but left a straight one from O’Keefe to see his off stump rattled. India were 47/3 in 17th over and going no where. Rahane (18) showed brief aggression but made immediate exit courtesy a soft dismissal. Australia then successfully reviewed a lbw decision against Ravichandran Ashwin as nothing went India’s way. Wriddhiman Saha fell at the stroke of tea to give O’Keefe a second fivefor in the match.
Cheteshwar Pujara top scored with 31 but fell immediately after tea. Lyon wrapped up the tail quickly to bring out wild celebrations.
In the morning, the signs were ominous about how the deteriorating wicket is going to behave. The wicket seeming like a dust bowl was producing vicious turn and bounce for Ravindra Jadeja who like on Day 2 final session continued to bowl unplayable deliveries to Smith and Mitchell Marsh.
Smith who offered three chances on Friday continued to ride his luck by getting early boundary through leg slip as Rahane failed to pluck a tough chance. However, India had their first success of the day when Jadeja got through Marsh (31) defence to end the 56-run partnership for fifth wicket.