India end 10-year drought in Oz with 31-run win
ADELAIDE: India gave wings to their quest for a maiden series win in Australia with a 31-run victory in the opening Test, their first in the country since 2008, with Rishabh Pant equalling a world record along the way here Monday.
Chasing 323, the hosts were bowled out for 291 in 119.5 overs shortly before tea on day five with Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami taking three wickets each for a 1-0 lead in the four-match series.
Pant finished with 11 catches, and equalled the record for most dismissals in a Test by a wicketkeeper, sharing it with England’s Jack Russell and South Africa’s AB de Villiers.
“Priceless from (Cheteshwar) Pujara, we were down and out at lunch on day one,” skipper Kohli said after the match. This was the first time India won the opening Test of a series in Australia in 70 years.