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  Sports   Cricket  25 Feb 2017  Australia humiliate India with 333-run victory

Australia humiliate India with 333-run victory

THE ASIAN AGE WITH AGENCY INPUTS
Published : Feb 25, 2017, 10:06 am IST
Updated : Feb 25, 2017, 9:04 pm IST

Australia defeated India by a mammoth 333 runs in the first Test to grab a 1-0 lead in the series.

Steve O'Keefe picked up 12 wickets in the match. (Photo: AP)
 Steve O'Keefe picked up 12 wickets in the match. (Photo: AP)

Pune: Australia overwhelmed India at their own game and in their own backyard by 333 runs to win the first Test and take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Steve O'Keefe was easily the standout bowler with his 12-wicket haul (four in each innings), ably supported by Nathan Lyon who picked up four in the second innings.

India looked like they could gain the upper hand in the match after dismissing Australia for 260 in the first innings. But after being in a steady position at 94/3, O'Keefe took centre-stage and along with Nathan Lyon, took 7 wickets for the next 11 runs to send the hosts back to the pavilion for 105.

India managed to snare some early Aussie wickets before stumps on Day 2 but skipper Steve Smith struck a gritty century on Day 3 to guide his team to 285 and set Virat Kohli's men a target of 441.

But it went horribly wrong again for the hosts as O'Keefe and Lyon picked up from where they had left off to skittle out India for 107 by grabbing six and four wickets respectively.

India 99/6 from 28.3 overs:

WICKET! O'Keefe picks up yet another wickets. The 33-year-old has proved to be unplayable on this Pune track. He has picked up his second five-for in this match, as he runs through the Indian top order. He trapped Wriddhiman Saha lbw, before the umpires call for tea.

India 79/5 from 25 overs:

O'Keefe is running through the Indian top order like a hot knife through butter. He has picked up four of the five wickets this innings, and the 10th wicket of the match. Rahane and Ashwin depart in quick succession.

India 49/3 from 17 overs:

India are in deep trouble now. Needing 441 runs to win the match, India have lost three early wickets, the most recent of which, was that of skipper Virat Kohli, who completely misjudged the turn on O'Keefe's delivery, which crashed into his stumps. This was the second wicket by O'Keefe.

Pune: Steve Smith's hundred has led Australia's charge as India, after dismissing Australia for 285 on Day 3 here on Saturday, need a mammoth 441 runs to win the opening Test.

Leading from the front, the Australian skipper scored his 18th Test ton as India failed to run through the Australian batting line-up on Saturday at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium.

The onus will be on Indian batsmen, who failed to put up a big total on board in the first innings, to pull off a sensational win.

The visitors, who resumed day three on 143-4, were bowled out for 285 in an extended morning session which ended with the wicket of Steve O'Keefe (6) and lunch was called.

Skipper Smith dominated play to take his overnight score of 59 to 109 as he tackled India's bowlers with aplomb till he fell to left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja.

Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin claimed four wickets while Jadeja took three.

Smith, who survived three dropped catches on Friday, lived dangerously after surviving another spilled chance on 67 and a close lbw appeal on 73.

The world's top batsman went on to register his first ton on Indian soil and the 18th of his career, jumping with joy and kissing his helmet after reaching the three-figure mark.

India were at the receiving end of some dodgy decisions including Smith's lbw and a caught behind of Mathew Wade but had already utilised their two reviews on day two.

Wade though couldn't capitalise on his luck, falling to Umesh Yadav a couple of balls later.

Smith, who struck his fifth consecutive ton against India since the 2014-15 series in Australia, was finally trapped lbw off Jadeja and taking a review proved futile.

Mitchell Starc, who scored a gritty 61 in Australia's first innings score of 260, hit a breezy 30 with 2 fours and 3 sixes.

But it was left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe who put Australia in a commanding position after his career-best haul of 6-35 helped skittle out India for 105 on Friday. The hosts conceded a crucial 155-run lead.

Number-two ranked Australia, who lost their last nine Tests in Asia, are looking for an upset win against the world's top side.

Tags: india vs australia, pune test, live cricket score
Location: India, Maharashtra, Pune