India reduce Australia to 27-year low with MCG victory
Rain threatened to spoil the Indian party but after rolling the Cummins-Lyon resistance, Virat Kohli's men claimed a historic series win at the MCG. RE-LIVE OUR LIVE COVERAGE.
Pat Cummins’ masterful rearguard knock came to an end to hand India the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the MCG.
Australia must now win the final Test in Sydney starting later this week if they’re to square the series and save themselves from the ignominy of becoming the first side to lose a Test series to India on home soil.
Rain prolonged the inevitable on day five with play not resuming until after lunch, but India’s nerves quickly disappeared.
SCROLL DOWN TO RECAP THE FINAL DAY IN THE BLOG BELOW
Cummins was finally out for 63 to another unplayable delivery from Indian seam master Jasprit Bumrah (nine wickets) and Australia quickly fell to be all out for 261 and suffer a chastening 137-run defeat.
Selectors are set to wield the axe, with Queensland all-rounder Marnus Labuschagne favoured to be added to the squad for the fourth and final match of the series at the SCG.
Top order batting killed Australia in the third Test, as they crumbled to be all out for 151 in the first innings.
Had Australia been able to produce their second innings 261 in the first dig they may well have been able to save the Test match given the amount of time they would have taken out of the match by forcing India to add to their lead before making a final declaration.
It’s India’s first ever Boxing Day Test victory.
Mitchell Marsh and Aaron Finch are the two players under the most pressure for the New Years’ finale.
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Originally published as India reduce Australia to 27-year low with MCG victory
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