Although the first day’s play was washed out due to rain, the remaining four days were enough for the Indian players to score an emphatic six-wicket victory over Australia in Mohali and take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the four-match Test series.
It almost became an ODI game in the end, thanks to 44-run partnership off 108 balls between Starc and Doherty for the last wicket. They made things very difficult for India and delayed the proceedings further. Australia bowled out for 223 in the second innings, setting a victory target of 133 for India from a minimum of 27 overs. India also got nine more overs, as 15 mandatory overs were to be bowled in the last one hour.
Australians hoped for a miracle, but that did not happen. After a steady start, India went aggressive and reached the target with 2.3 overs to spare. They lost four wickets in the process. Vijay (26), Pujara (38), Kohli (34) and Tendulkar (21)
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were the top scorers. Shikhar Dhawan, who made 187 on debut, could not bat in the second innings due to an injury. He may sit out of the next test match too.With this win, India would now look forward to a 4-0 whitewash by winning the Delhi Test, which begins on Friday. Shikhar Dhawan was declared ‘Man of the Match’.
Scores:
Australia 408 (Cowan 86, Warner 71, Steven Smith 92, Mitchell Starc 99; Ishant 3/72, Ashwin 2/97, Ojha 2/98, Jadeja 3/77) & 223 (Hughes 69, Hadin 30, Starc 35; Bhuvneshwar Kumar 3/31, Ashwin 2/72, Jadeja 3/35, Ojha 2/46).
India 499 (Vijay 153, Shikhar Dhawan 187, Kohli 67*, Tendulkar 37; Starc 2/74, Siddle 5/71) & 136/4 (Vijay 26, Pujara 28, Kohli 34, Tendulkar 21).