Steve O'Keefe stars as Australia destroy India

Pune: Left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe wreaked havoc on the Indian batters as Australia emphatically defeated India by 333 runs on the third day of the first Test here at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium here on Saturday.

Chasing a mammoth target of 441, the Virat Kohli-led side suffered a second batting collapse in two days and were bowled out for 107 runs in the second innings.

The loss ended India's winning streak of 19 matches on the trot and also the 17 match home-winning streak. This was also Kohli's first defeat as captain in Test cricket at home. India last tasted a home defeat in Tests in 2012 against England.

On a dry, turning pitch that should have suited India's spinners, Smith scored the only hundred of the match and Steve O'Keefe took as many wickets as Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja combined. O’Keefe was declared Man of the Match.

The hosts began their chase on a disastrous note as openers KL Rahul and Murali Vijay were dismissed inside seven. Both were dismissed LBW and opened the floodgates for the Aussies to cash in.

Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara then tried to steady the ship, but the Indian captain shouldered his arms to a straight delivery from O'Keefe to lose his off stump. No other Indian batsmen could stay at the wicket and the Indian batting fell like a pack of cards.

O’Keefe’s 12 for 69 were the best figures ever by a visiting spinner in a Test on Indian soil. He was well supported by Nathan Lyon who picked up four in the second innings.

India are now 0-1 down in the four-match series and going into the second Test, they have a lot to think about, especially about their batting.