ADELAIDE: Australia beat India by 48 runs in a thrilling end to the first Test at Adelaide Oval yesterday, with Nathan Lyon picking up seven wickets after Virat Kohli scored an inspired century for the visitors.
A match that had begun in high emotion after the death last month of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes ended in high drama after an absorbing final day in South Australia.
Set 364 to win after Australia declared on their overnight score of 290-5, India seemed to be on their way to an unlikely victory after a brilliant 141 from Kohli and a gritty 99 from opener Murali Vijay.
But Lyon, a former groundsman at Adelaide Oval, turned the match the home team’s way with his offspinners, as India’s tail collapsed and the tourists were bowled out for 315.
Lyon finished with 7-152, giving him 12 wickets for the match, a career-best, and giving the Australians the early advantage in the four-match series, which resumes in Brisbane next week.
Kohli, in his first match as Indian captain, almost won the match single-handledly for his country.
He scored centuries in both innings and dominated Australia’s bowlers on a pitch favouring spin.
His career-best 141 came off just 175 deliveries and featured 16 fours and one six. He also shared a third wicket partnership of 185 with Vjay, who made half-centuries in each innings but fell agonisingly short of a deserved hundred.
With India seemingly in control at 242-2 after tea, Vijay suddenly had an attack of nerves and threw his wicket away with a rash attempt to reach triple figures, trapped lbw by Lyon after swiping at the ball.
His departure triggered a catastrophic batting collapse as India lost their last eight wickets for just 73 runs with Lyon the chief destroyer.
Kohli continued to play a lone hand but when he mistimed a pull shot and was caught in the deep, the end came quickly for the visitors.
Australia’s win did come at cost, however, with captain Michael Clarke limping off the field with a hamstring problem that he said would likely keep him out for the remainder of the series.
Meanwhile, Australia coach Darren Lehmann’s been lauded as the “rock” — restoring men broken by Phillip Hughes’ passing to an indomitable, first Test fighting machine against India.
Lehmann also ensured Australia dealt with the cold reality of Hughes’ loss. The 27-Test left-hander called on all the reserves of experience, stoicism and compassion that saw him through the death of David Hookes a decade earlier.
Former Australian batsman Hughes’ funeral was on December 3 leaving head coach Lehmann just six days to prepare an emotionally drained Test unit for the performance of their lives in Adelaide.
“He has great empathy and has shown enormous care for them, particularly with what they’ve been through in recent times,” said Cricket Australia, general manager — high performance, Pat Howard of Lehmann.
“You could say that he has been a rock for many of the group since Phillip’s passing. That’s a measure of a great leader.”AGENCIES
