The last time India suffered a defeat at home was five years back. At the Eden Gardens against England when Yuvraj Singh was still a Test cricketer. And after all those years, India suffered their first Test defeat the hands of Australia who beat them by 333 runs in the first Test in Pune.
India suffered a second batting collapse in two days and were bowled out for 107 runs in the second innings. India surrendered the Test to Australia inside three days after Steve O’Keefe picked up six wickets each in both innings.
India were chasing a target of 441 runs but were bowled out for 107 in just 33.5 overs in the second innings with Nathan Lyon picking up four wickets in the second innings. This was Australia’s first win on Indian soil in 13 years.
Kohli and Chesterhwar Pujara tried to steady the ship for India but the Indian captain shouldered his arms to a straight delviery from O’Keefe to lose his off stump.
No other Indian batsmen could provide resistance apart from Pujara as Ajinkya Rahane fell to Lyon, caught at covers. Ashwin was promoted up the order once again but O’Keefe had him leg-before wicket after a review.
Wriddhiman Saha fell at the stroke of Tea and India went to the break at 99 for 6 with Pujara still unbeaten.
But Australia needed only 20 minutes after Tea to bowl out India seal the match inside three days, completing their first win after 13 years.
Earlier, Australia captain Steve Smith scored his 18th Test century and first in India as Australia extended their lead past 400. This was his 10th century as Australia captain in only 37 innings.
Mitchell Starc played yet another cameo and scored 30 runs off just 31 balls to take Australia to that mammoth total.
R Ashwin picked up four wickets and Ravindra Jadeja picked up three wickets in the second innings to help India bowl out Australia for 285 runs in the second innings.
Australia take 1-0 lead
Australia walloped a hapless India to register their first Test win here since 2004 and take 1-0 lead in the four-match series in Pune on Saturday. Chasing 441, India crashed to 107 all out – two less than what Steve Smith managed in Australia’s second innings to suffer a 333-run defeat – their first at home in 19 Tests.
A terrible start to the chase for India and a dream start for Australia. The hosts have lost both their openers Murali Vijay and KL Rahul – both out LBW to Steve O’Keefe and Nathan Lyon respectively. What’s worse is that both the batsmen used DRS to review the decision and India are now left without any.
Indian skipper, Virat Kohli says the run (19-match unbeaten streak) was really good and the support they are getting is incredible. Admits that Australia outplayed India and says that his team wasn’t good enough. Calls it their worst batting performance in the last two years.
As in the start Smith won a good toss on day 1 but then had his side in trouble towards the end of the day. However, Mitchell Starc stepped up and unleashed a quickfire fifty to provide a much-needed impetus to his side. Then they came out all guns blazing with the ball on day 2 and not only steamrolled the hosts for a scanty 105, but also gained a handsome lead of 155. They swelled it to a mammoth 440 runs on the back of a superb ton from their skipper. Agreed he got reprieves but take nothing away from him. The middle and lower middle order also provided a handful support to Smith to put the hosts further under the pump.
A sensational performance from Australia! They go 1-0 up in the series and boy, they have done that by beating the hosts by a huge, huge margin. Though it was an all-round effort from them, the two Steves – Steve Smith and Steve O’Keefe – have got the job done.
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