New Delhi: Australia defeated India by 8 wickets in the series opener at the Adelaide Oval. Aussies were handed a small target of 90 runs but the visitors which openers Matthew Wade and Joe Burns made more comfortable with a 50 run partnership.
Virat Kohli-led side might have had a 62-run lead entering the third day of the first Test, but the side squandered the advantage as the batsmen failed to rise to the occasion and Australia made light work of the visitors. India was bundled out for 36 in the second innings, setting a target of 90 runs.
Six and fifty for Joe Burns!
What a way to seal victory for Australia! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/9ZLfC3f41r
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 19, 2020
This score of 36 is India’s lowest-ever score in Test cricket. Before this, India’s lowest score was 42 in Test cricket against England in 1974. For Australia, Josh Hazelwood scalped five wickets while Pat Cummins took four wickets.
Resuming day three at 9/1, India lost the wickets of Jasprit Bumrah (2) and Cheteshwar Pujara (0) in quick succession as Pat Cummins sent both the batsmen back to the pavilion. In the very next over of Pujara’s dismissal, Josh Hazlewood prized the wickets of Mayank Agarwal (9) and Ajinkya Rahane (0), and India was left reeling at 15/5 with just a lead of 68 runs over the hosts.
Getting Indian run machine Cheteshwar Pujara for a duck amid a stunning batting collapse – #OhWhatAFeeling indeed! #AUSvIND | @Toyota_Aus pic.twitter.com/3htz5NLNFY
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 19, 2020
Things turned worse for the visitors as Pat Cummins had Virat Kohli (4) caught at the hands of Cameron Green at gully. Wriddhiman Saha and Ravichandran Ashwin also failed to leave a mark and India was left reeling at 26/8. In the end, Mohammad Shami was hit on the right arm, and he was not able to continue further and as a result. Shami was retired out and India’s innings came to an end with the score at 36.
Cameron Green did well to hold on here!
Absolute scenes as Pat Cummins also celebrates his 150th Test wicket.#AUSvIND | @hcltech pic.twitter.com/PQscMWsdIz
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 19, 2020
Kohli-led India had bundled Australia out on 191 in the first innings of the first Test after Umesh Yadav, Ashwin, and Jasprit Bumrah’s heroics with the ball. The visitors were 9/1 in the second essay when the umpires ended play on the second night. Virat Kohli-led side had entered day three with a 62-run lead.
