Perth, Dec 18: India crumbled in the face of Australia’s remarkable metamorphosis and crashed to a 146-run defeat in the second Test here Tuesday, surrendering a rare hard-earned ascendancy in a series Down Under.
The hosts levelled the four-match series 1-1 after India were bowled out for 140 runs in 56 overs in their second innings on the fifth and final day.
Starting from overnight 112 for five, India lost their last five wickets for 28 runs and it was all over within 65 minutes of play.
This was Australia’s first Test win since the ball-tampering scandal broke out in South Africa earlier this year.
Having won the opening game by 31 runs to go in front a week ago, India had been talked up as a threat coming into the capital of Western Australia, but they wilted as the pace-spin duo of Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon worked in tandem at the Optus Stadium.
Starc (3-46) and Lyon (3-39) finished with three wickets apiece, while Josh Hazle-wood (2-24) and Pat Cummins (2-25) took a brace each.
While Starc and his pace colleagues were expected to thrive on the lively track, it was off-spinner Lyon’s exceptional outing that gave Australia the edge. He finished the match with eight wickets, including a five-for in the first innings and a deserving Man-of-the-Match award. (PTI)
Score Board
Australia first innings: 326
India first innings: 283
Australia 2nd Innings: 243
India 2nd Innings:
K L Rahul b Starc 0
Murali Vijay b Lyon 20
Cheteshwar Pujara c Paine b Hazlewood 4
Virat Kohli c Khawaja b Lyon 17
Ajinkya Rahane c Head b Hazlewood 30
Hanuma Vihari c Marcus Harris b Starc 28
Rishabh Pant c Handscomb b Lyon 30
Umesh Yadav c & b Starc 2
Ishant Sharma c Paine b Pat Cummins 0
Mohammed Shami not out 0
Jasprit Bumrah c & b Pat Cummins 0
Extras: (B-6, LB-0, W-3) 9
Total: (10 wkts, 56 Overs) 140
Fall of Wickets: 0-1, 13-2, 48-3, 55-4, 98-5, 119-6, 137-7, 139-8, 140-9, 140-10.
Bowler: Mitchell Starc 17-3-46-3, Josh Hazlewood 11-3-24-2, Pat Cummins 9-0-25-2, Nathan Lyon 19-3-39-3.
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