Nagpur, Feb 11: A wily Ravichandran Ashwin blew away a panic-stricken Australia with a fifer as India dismantled visitors’ second innings in a single session to win the opening Test by a comprehensive innings and 132 run-margin, here Saturday. After taking a massive 223-run first innings lead, India decimated Australia for just 91 in 32.3 overs with the Test match finishing inside three days at Jamtha.
It’s rare that an Australian innings folds inside on session.
After Axar Patel’s career-best 84 and Mohammed Shami’s entertaining 37 took India to a commanding first innings total of 400, Ashwin (5/37) literally mauled the Australians with the new ball, taking his 31st five-wicket haul in Test cricket.
The Australian batters once again made the cardinal mistake of playing the pitch rather than the bowler and looked utterly confused on whether to defend or attack.
The Indian innings showed that demons were in the minds of Australian batters and not in the 22-yard strip.
The intent was to be positive but even with all the simulated training sessions, it was always going to be difficult to read Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja (2/34), latter playing the second fiddle this time.
They didn’t have slightest clue which one was turning and which one was coming straight.
Mohammed Shami (2/13), after a solid batting show put the final nail in the Australian coffin by trapping Scott Boland.
Earlier, Axar Patel’s resolute 84 and Shami’s entertaining 37 gave India a massive 223-run first innings lead. The hosts posted 400 by third day lunch session after resuming the day at 321 for seven.
They wouldn’t have envisaged that Australia had lost it in their minds even before they came out to bat for the second time.
India had practically out-batted Australia on a track which the visiting media alleged was “doctored”.
The pitch didn’t change its character much and it remained a slow turner where any batter, ready to grind, would get runs.
While Todd Murphy has been impressive on debut, Lyon’s (1/126) performance has been disappointing to say the least as his bowling lacked the bite.
Almost all the Indian batters found it easy to defend the veteran off-spinner off the back-foot. (PTI)
