A fiery five-wicket haul by Ravichandran Ashwin combined with all-round brilliance of Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel helped India clinch a massive win by innings and 132 runs within the first three days of the first Test of Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in Nagpur, after the visitors were bundled out for just 91 runs before the end of the second session on Saturday.
With this, India has a 1-0 lead in the four-match series.
In the second innings, Australia was once again off to a tricky start in their bid to overcome a lead of 223 runs by India. Ravichandran Ashwin started Aussie's downfall by dismissing Usman Khawaja for just five runs off nine balls. Australia was 7/1.
Marnus Labuschagne was the next man on the crease and he continued his good form, slamming three great boundaries. However, Ravindra Jadeja's golden arm did the trick again and he trapped the world's number one Test batter lbw for 17 off 28 balls. Australia was 26/2.
Ashwin was breathing fire with the ball. He went on to dismiss David Warner (10) and Matt Renshaw (2) in quick succession. Ashwin got his fourth wicket of the match and he sent back Handscomb in the fourth lbw dismissal of the inning.
Australia was in a huge spot of bother at 52/5, trailing by 167 runs.
Despite trying, there was not stopping Ashwin. Australia's downward spiral seemed endless and went one step further after Ashwin trapped Alex Carey for 10. Aussies were reduced to 64/6.
Jadeja and Axar joined Ashwin and the trio was running riot on Aussies. Jadeja picked up Cummins (1) while Axar dismissed Todd Murphy (2). Australia was 75/8 and trailed by 148 runs and just two wickets away from an embarrassing third-day defeat.
Pacer Mohammed Shami's made pace bowling's first entry in the wicket-taking charts for the inning. He dismantled Nathan Lyon's stumps for 8 runs. Australia was left struggling at 88/9, trailing by 135 runs. The Aussies were just one wicket away from a loss.
Shami hit Australia with one final blow, dismissing Scott Boland for a duck. Australia was all out for just 91 runs in 32.3 overs. They lost the match by an innings and 132 runs. Smith was left stranded at 25 runs.
Ashwin was the pick of the bowlers for hosts, taking 5/37 in 12 overs. Jadeja also took 2/34 while Shami got figures of 2/13. Axar also took a wicket for six runs in three overs.
A brilliant 84-run knock by all-rounder Axar Patel and an entertaining cameo by Mohammed Shami put India in a commanding position, with a lead of 223 runs at lunch on the day three of the first Test against Australia at Nagpur on Saturday.
Mohammed Shami was next up at the crease. Shami put a price on his wicket and played some fine strokes, including a four and a six. Axar continued to guard his wicket as well. India crossed the 350-run mark in the 128th over of their innings.
The duo took India's lead beyond 180 runs. India was 380/9 in 132.4 overs and led by 203 runs.
Mohammed Siraj was the last man to arrive at the crease for India.
Cummins dismissed Axar Patel for a well-made 84 off 174 balls, consisting of 10 fours and a six. India was out for 400 runs and had a lead of 223 runs heading into lunch.
Murphy had a dream spell on his debut, taking 7 wickets for 124 runs in 47 overs. Cummins got two for 78 runs in 20.3 overs. Spinner Nathan Lyon could only get one scalp for 126 runs in 49 overs.
Jadeja and Axar then took the baton and guided India to a dominant position at the end of day two, ending at 321/7 on the second day. It gave India a 144-run lead. They kept Australia toiling hard for a wicket, made them chase the cherry all over the park and reached their respective fifties.
(with inputs from ANI)
