To say that India were beaten in the first Test would be undermining Australia’s effort. They were humiliated on a dry, turning track with almost a session’s play left on the third day here at the Maharashtra Cricket Association stadium.
Virat Kohli and company, who had enjoyed an unbeaten run in the last 19 Tests, were given a reality check by a determined Australia as Steve O’Keefe (12/70) produced the best figures by an Australian against India in this country.
The left-arm spinner, for whom it was perhaps the last chance to revive his international career, bamboozled the Indian batsmen not so much with vicious turn as accuracy and subtle variations in lengths to bowl Australia to their first Test win in India since 2004.
Australia, overnight 143/4, ended their second innings at 285 all out to extend their overall lead to 440. That meant India had to overhaul the highest successful chase ever. They had the time, but certainly not the wherewithal on a surface where their skills against the turning ball, and on several occasions against the straighter ones, were put to test.
They failed and failed badly, crashing to 107 all out in 125 minutes. While O’Keefe deservedly won the man of the match honour, his senior spin partner Nathan Lyon complemented him well with second innings figures of 4/53. Skipper Steven Smith scored the only century (109) of the match.
While he did ride his luck through the innings, his fifth 100 against India in as many Tests may well be his most significant one.
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