- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
India have retained the Border-Gavaskar trophy at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, beating Australia by 137 runs in the third Test.
After Australia were put well behind in the match during the first four days, things only lasted for 4.3 overs on the final day as first Pat Cummins, and then Nathan Lyon got out to end the match to the bowling of Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma.
The Australians, chasing 399 for victory, were reduced to 6 for 157 at one point as the top order failed again amid a barrage of starts, before poor shot selection ensured a regular flow of wickets.
The performance of Pat Cummins was something to behold as he joined first with Mitch Starc, then Nathan Lyon to ensure Australia would get through to the end of Day 4, including an extra half an hour as India chased the win.
Cummins, who barely spent more than 50 overs off the ground throughout the course of the match, then watched the rainfall early on Day 5 as the entire first session was rained out.
When play was eventually resumed though, Australia needed 141 runs from 71 overs with just two wickets in the shed. It wasn’t to be though, with the task always looking too much.
It was all set up by India during their first innings as they batted for almost 170 overs. Cheteswhar Pujara and Virat Kohli led the way during a grind on a slow-looking wicket as they eventually declared with 443 on the board.
The pitch then started to do things on Day 3, but poor shot selections for Australia saw them all out for 151 and a long way behind as Jasprit Bumrah took six wickets, running through Australia.
With rain forecast, Kohli elected not to enforce the follow-on and India ended up declaring early on Day 4 at 8 for 106 as Pat Cummins took six wickets, reducing the Indian top order to dust.
Despite that, the damage was done, and now all Australia can do is end up with a tied series in Sydney.
Match summary
India 1st innings: 7dec/443 (169.4) [C.Pujara 106, V.Kohli 82, M.Agarwal 76, R.Sharma 63, R.Pant 39, A. Rahane 34, P.Cummins 3/72]
Australia 1st innings: 10/151 (66.5) [M.Harris 22, T.Paine 22, J.Bumrah 6/33]
India 2nd innings: 8dec/106 (37.3) [M.Agarwal 42, R.Pant 33, P.Cummins 6/27]
Australia 2nd innings: 10/261 (89.3) [P.Cummins 63, S.Marsh 44, T.Head 34, U.Khawaja 33, J.Bumrah 3/53, R.Jadeja 3/82]
India defeat Australia by 137 runs to take 2-1 lead in Border-Gavaskar trophy.