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Cheteshwar Pujara, bowlers help India clinch first Test win in Australia in 10 years

India scripted history on Monday by registering a win in the opening Test of a series in Australia for the very first time, following their victory by 31 runs on day five at the Adelaide Oval. 

The victory also saw the Virat Kohli-led team end India’s 10-year-long wait for a Test win Down Under as the Asian giants last won in Australia under Anil Kumble at Perth in 2008.The visitors have also become the first team to win a Test match in Australia, England and South Africa in the same calendar year.

Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and pace-bowlers Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah combined to tear through the Australian batting when it mattered the most. 

Chasing a record total of 323 runs to win the first Test of the ongoin four-match series, Australia resumed their innings on 104 for four on day five, still 219 runs short of their victory target. India made the breakthrough early in the first session of the final day, with Ishant Sharma delivering a fine bouncer to dismiss Travis Head for 14 runs.

Shaun Marsh (60) and skipper Tim Paine (41) fight hard for Australia as they not only notched up crucial knocks but also made the Indian bowlers work hard for victory with a 41-run partnership for the sixth wicket. 
 
After losing Paine, Marsh continued to bat beautifully and shared another 41-run partnership with Pat Cummins (28) before Virat Kohli’s men finally breathed a sigh of relief when Jasprit Bumrah sent the former back to the pavilion before lunch.

Subsequently, Cummins and Mitchell Starc delayed India’s victory by batting cautiously and contributing 28 runs each. 

Nathan Lyon also struck a beautiful knock of 38 runs before India finally bowled out Australia for 291 runs to clinch the historic win.

For India, Mohammed Shami was the pick of the bowlers for his brilliant figures of three for 65, followed by Jasprit Bumrah’s three for 68.While Ashwin also contributed with three wickets conceding 92 runs, Ishant Sharma chipped in with a wicket. 

Cheteshwar Pujara was declared `Man of the Match` for his blistering knocks of 123 and 71 runs in the two innings.

The clash was all the more memorable for the visitors, considering the personal milestones achieved by Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara, respectively.

Kohli became the fastest Indian batsman to score 1000 Test runs in Australia, surpassing the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman. 

Cheteshwar Pujara, on the other hand, equalled legendary batsman Sourav Ganguly’s tally of 16 Test centuries following his heroic knock in the first innings, going on to complete 5000 Test runs as well. 

With the win, India have now taken a 1-0 lead in the four-match series. The two sides will play their second Test on December 14 at Perth Stadium. 

Source: Zee News