India draw a 1-1 draw in a four-game test series with Australia after beating MCG eight wickets; visitors had missed the first Test in Adelaide by eight wikis after dropping to 36 all out; the third trial is due to begin on January 7th
The AP
Last updated: 29/12/20 8:18 am
India stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane and Australian skipper Tim Paine hit a fist after winning the Tourist stage in Melbourne
India completed a remarkable form conversion by sealing an eight-wicket win over Australia on day four of the second Test at the MCG to draw a level at 1-1 in the four-game series.
The horrific impact of the tourists in Melbourne came just over a week after they dropped to a national low of 36 in an eight-wicket loss to Australia in Adelaide.
India – with Ajinkya Rahane as captain without Virat Kohli, who has flown home for the birth of her baby – reached their target of 70 in 15.5 years after beating Australia for 200.
The visitors lost Mayank Agarwal (5) with the score on 16 and Cheteshwar Pujara (3) with the total on 19 when Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins beat in the fifth and sixth rounds respectively.
Rahane was named Man of the Match after his centenary of winning for India
Rahane, who fell on 19, finished without a loss on 27 and hit the winning run, right after his first century, while opener Shubman Gill finished 35 not out.
India Debutant sailor Mohammed Siraj led his side off the field at lunchtime after adding 3-37 to 2-40 second innings in the first stroke in Australia.
The guests started on day four at 133-6 and Pat Cummins (22) and Cameron Green (45) added another 23 before Cummins blocked a bouncer from Jasprit Bumrah for the second slip, the seventh wicket ended at 57 .
Green was caught at midwicket off Siraj to make it 177-8, before Siraj sent off Nathan Lyon (3) eight runs later.
India’s fast Mohammed Siraj scored five wickets in the match for the first time
Josh Hazlewood (10) was the last man out, offering no shot to be thrown by spinner Ravi Ashwin (2-71), with Starc left at 14.
Australia had opted to bat after winning the toss on Boxing Day but were sent off for 195 before Rahane 112 lifted India to 326 in response.
The third Test is scheduled to take place in Sydney from January 7, although Cricket Australia has yet to confirm that the game will be held in Melbourne due to coronavirus infection.