Australia v India: Indians win in Adelaide amid late drama
Australia's tailenders put up a brave fight but India have broken through for a tense victory on day five in Adelaide | WATCH
Welcome to coverage of Day 5 of the First Test between Australia and India at the Adelaide Oval. India have won by 31 runs
4.50pm: Agony, relief
As Virat Kohli celebrated victory wildly, Nathan Lyon cut a distraught figure as the match ended.
“It’s pretty shattering. I’m really proud of the fight of our lower order,” skipper Tim Paine said. “Over the five days, we had a number of opportunities to get ahead of the game and failed to.
“We take a lot of confidence from today. The way our guys fought was sensational — we just needed someone in our top six to go big like (Cheteshwar) Pujara did.”
Kohli admitted it was hard to stay calm on the frantic final day, when Shaun Marsh’s 60 and Paine’s 41 threatened to make things interesting.
“I wouldn’t say I was cool as ice but you just try not to show it,” Kohli said. “The odds were stacked against them once we got Pat Cummins out.
“They gave it a go, tried their best but we executed our plans — eventually.”
Was the final catch clean?
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 10, 2018
Take another look #AUSvIND 🇦🇺ðŸðŸ‡®ðŸ‡³ pic.twitter.com/wz6zm1u2YT
Andrew Faulkner 4.30pm: Pujara’s feats recognised
Cheteshwar Pujara has been named man of the match for his scores of 123 and 71.
Nathan Lyon’s match haul of 8-205 and unbeaten scores of 24 and 38 would have placed him a solid but distant second.
The Australians can take so much from a match in which they showed great spirit but had no-one to match Pujara’s batting.
Andrew Faulkner 4.10pm: Wicket! India win
Virat Kohli’s tourists are one-up in the Border-Gavaskar series after winning an epic first Test by 31 runs.
The Australians were all out for 291 when Hazlewood was caught by Rahul for 13.
He fell in a session extended because the batting side was nine-down, meaning curator Damian Hough’s pitch hosted a Test that lasted into the last session of a fifth day.
It was a fourth innings full of pluck by the Australians, from Marsh’s 60 to Cummins’ and Starc’s 28s to Lyon’s 38 not out
Australia’s tail wagged as hard as India’s didn’t. The hosts’ last four wickets added 135 runs — India lost 4-4 at the end of its innings yesterday.
It wasn’t enough to stave off Australia’s first loss in Adelaide since the 2010/11 Ashes.
🇮🇳INDIA WIN🇮🇳
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 10, 2018
India wins the first Test by 31 runs at the Adelaide Oval.#AUSvIND #FoxCricket pic.twitter.com/aLnHPecIv1
3.50pm: Target down below 50
Nathan Lyon and No.11 Josh Hazlewood are making the bowlers work hard for the final wicket. Lyon is up to 29 off 38 deliveries, while Hazlewood has 6 off 28 balls. The victory target is now 49 runs away.
Andrew Faulkner 3.30pm: Kohli cool under pressure
Virat Kohli flings the ball into the turf after catching Cummins. The Indian skipper calmly strolls towards his celebrating teammates before throwing the ball hard into the ground.
The Australians are 9-260, with Lyon on 21 and Hazlewood yet to score.
3.25pm: Wicket!
The brave run of Pat Cummins (28) ends as he edges Jasprit Bumrah to a relieved Virat Kohli at first slip. India are now just one dismissal away from victory.
WICKET: Cummins edges one to Kohli. India need one more wicket for the win.#AUSvIND #FoxCricket pic.twitter.com/aftz5qbFng
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 10, 2018
Andrew Faulkner 3.15pm: Missed catch has Indians anxious
Starc has departed but handed the baton to Nathan Lyon, who’s taken up from where he left his unconquered first innings.
Lyon’s skipped to 11, helping Cummins (25) ease Australia to within 76 runs of a famous win.
India’s frustration is building, especially now that Pant’s dropped Lyon. The keeper had a chance at a new record — his 11 catches this match equalled AB de Villiers and Jack Russell for the most in a Test.
More importantly, he could’ve all but sewn up the Test had his one-glove effort stuck.
2.51pm: Wicket!
Mitchell Starc (28) aims a big drive at Mohammed Shami but only succeeds in getting a nick through to keeper Pant. A brave 41-run stand ends, and the glimmer of hope Australia had dims again at 8-228.
Andrew Faulkner 2.45pm: Final-day heroics?
The partnership between Cummins and Starc is enough to tease the many ardent supporters daring to dream of a home win.
The wicket is still playing well and with enough bounce for Ishant to hit Starc on the helmet early in the Australian’s innings.
After a long delay to replace his helmet, Starc returned to unfurl a range of shots that soon had him speeding past Cummins on the scoreboard.
2.37pm: Target now under 100
Mitchell Starc (25) smashes Mohammed Shami to the cover boundary, then in the following over Pat Cummins (16) steals a quick single to reduce the victory target to a mere 99. This pair is at least making the Indian bowlers sweat for victory.
2.20pm: Tale of the tape
The Indian pace bowlers in this match have averaged 141.4 kph with 50.6% of deliveries in good line & length region. In the @CricViz database (going back to 2006), this has been their most quickest and most disciplined performance in a Test in SENA countries. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/IFl268wSG0
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) December 10, 2018
Andrew Faulkner 1.55pm: Extra pace sinks Paine
Tim Paine’s fallen in the second over after the break, skying a top-edged pull that was comfortably taken by Pant.
The skipper had a few lucky escapes but refused to put away the pull and hook shots, and in the end he was undone by Bumrah’s extra pace.
It was a brave, fighting hand, played in some discomfort towards the end after he was struck on his right index finger.
But Australia’s hopes are surely shot now he’s departed for 41 (73 deliveries, four fours).
He fell on the devil’s number. Cummins and Starc have since added a run to take the score to 7-188.
WICKET: Paine skies one. India need 3 wickets to win.#AUSvIND #FoxCricket pic.twitter.com/HJiKulS7xa
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 10, 2018
1.45pm: Wicket!
Tim Paine tries to pull Bumrah to the fence but manages only to sky it to the keeper. A simple catch. Australia now 7-187.
1.40pm: Session two underway
Ravi Ashwin begins after lunch to Tim Paine with the relatively new ball. Jasprit Bumrah will take up the attack at the other end.
Andrew Faulkner 1.05pm: No giving up
A fighting, hard-running stand by Paine and Cummins has fanned Australia’s faint hopes.
At lunch the hosts are 6-186, with Paine on 40 and Cummins on five. The pair has added 30 in 50 minutes to leave their side needing 137 to win from the 64 overs remaining in the day.
India will launch an all-out assault with the new ball when play resumes after the break.
Andrew Faulkner 12.45pm: Skipper’s pain
Tim Paine has suffered a finger injury after being struck by Shami 20 minutes before the lunch break. Play was interrupted while the skipper’s right index finger was bound by the Australian support staff.
Paine (39) and Pat Cummins (five) have added 29 runs but, more importantly, have chewed up almost 50 minutes.
The running has been a feature of their union, showing they haven’t given up hope of winning the Test.
At 6-185, the target’s down to a tantalising 138.
Stump mic on 🔊
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 10, 2018
It’s cricket like never before, no commentary in the whole over 😮 #AUSvIND #foxcricket pic.twitter.com/8R2nwVMa9W
12.30pm: Close call!
Pat Cummins is given out, caught at bat-pad off the bowling of Ravi Ashwin, but calls for a review, which fails to show anything on hot spot. Snicko also flatlines, so umpire Nigel Llong is advised to change his decision. The interesting part of this is it’s identical to the Aaron Finch dismissal yesterday. It appears to cast doubt on the report, as relayed by Nathan Lyon, that the third umpire would have upheld the Finch call.
Andrew Faulkner 12.15pm: A body blow
Australia’s hopes of winning the Test have departed with the downcast Shaun Marsh, caught behind for 60.
Marsh edged Bumrah to Pant with 40 minutes left in the extended first session. His head bowed, Marsh scratched his guard, briefly considered reviewing before leaving the arena.
He was looking so good too.
The left-hander brought up his 50 with a crunching pull to the western boundary from Ashwin’s bowling.
The milestone came from 146 deliveries and included four fours. Paine had a lucky break in the next over when his attempted pull/hook flew just wide of keeper Pant.
Undeterred, Paine repeated the shot and picked up a single to fine-leg, whereupon Marsh clipped a crisp four in the vicinity of the Bharat Army camp on the eastern side.
Bumrah replaced Shami at the Cathedral End and Vijay gave Ashwin a brief spell at the River End.
12.10pm: Wicket!
Shaun Marsh (60) goes, caught behind after feathering a Jasprit Bumrah delivery to the keeper. That almost certainly spells the end for Australia, as they slip to 6-156.
WICKET: Shaun Marsh is out on 60. #AUSvIND #FoxCricket pic.twitter.com/UOeDnDS9B6
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 10, 2018
11.50am: Half-century for Marsh
Shaun Marsh brings up his 50 with a sublime pull shot to the mid-wicket fence. He reaches the milestone off 146 balls. The left-hander adds a pair of boundaries off Mohammed Shami’s next over.
Andrew Faulkner 11.35am: Hard going
One hour down, five-and-a-half to go. The trouble is, at the going rate of a wicket an hour the Australians will lose half an hour before stumps.
Marsh (48) and Paine (7) have taken the score to 5-135 after 65 minutes’ play. Paine has looked solid, while Marsh is defending stoutly to fan Australian hopes.
11.30am: Advantage India
Australia have added 26 runs but lost a wicket in the first hour of day 5. Shaun Marsh remains watchful — he looks determined to play a long innings — while skipper Tim Paine has opened his account with a slashing cut to the boundary.
Andrew Faulkner 11am: Wicket!
Travis Head has fallen to a brute of a ball from Ishant Sharma. The tall quick dug in a fast, short ball that not only reared but jagged back.
Head (14 from 62 balls) did his best to fend it away, but the ball caught high on the bat, or on the gloves, and popped up to Rahane in the gully.
The wicket fell at 115 after Head and Marsh added 11 runs in the first 30 minutes’ play.
Marsh is on 36 and Paine is the new man at the crease.
WICKET: Travis Head falls to the short ball. Australia 5-115.#AUSvIND #FoxCricket pic.twitter.com/pFKJOVVnAv
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 10, 2018
Andrew Faulkner 10.45am: Starc fears played down
There are no concerns about the form of Mitchell Starc in the Australian camp, assistant coach David Saker says.
“I think he’s been more consistent this year than he has been for quite a while,” Saker told SEN radio before play this morning.
“He got some good wickets for us. He bowled well with the new ball for us in both the first and second innings.”
Saker was bullish about Australia’s chances today. “The wicket’s playing quite well. So there’s no dramas in the wicket.
“We know that if we can counter Ashwin we should be OK. It’s an enthralling Test match. It’s one for the purists though.
“There’s not a lot of cricket shots out there. It’s hard to hit the ball because it’s a bit slower than normal. But it’s been a great Test match.”
10.30am: Play underway
Ravi Ashwin opens proceedings, delivering to Shaun Marsh. Ishant Sharma will bowl from the other end.
Hearing from the centre that the Adelaide wicket hasn’t looked better to bat on in this Test.
— Peter Lalor (@plalor) December 9, 2018
Has India left the door open a bit?
An Australia win would be a great story#barrackingfortheyarn
10.20am: Long day on the cards
Gates are open, the stage is set ðŸŸ
— SACA News (@SACAnews) December 9, 2018
Play begins at 10am on what promises to be a thrilling final day at Adelaide Oval
Who wins? 🇦🇺 🇮🇳 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/lppJfMRmth
Andrew Faulkner 10am: No worries of a stacked deck
The Australians need to only look down for a good omen this morning. They’re standing on it.
Curator par excellence Damian Hough’s lucky number is four. It’s his old footy number.
The Test is being played on pitch No. 4.
The most astutely numerate among you would note that the Test pitch is five strips from the western side, from where the wickets’ order starts.
The explanation is this: Hough, in a rare mortal moment, muddled up his order a few weeks before the Test.
So — and here is a fringe benefit of drop-ins — he simply swapped pitches four and five.
“So it’s pitch four in position five,” Hough told The Australian. “I’m superstitious. And that was my footy number too.”
Perhaps it’s a portent for Australia today, for pitch No. 4 remains firm and relatively free of gremlins.
If they bat the day they’ll score the 219 runs to win the Test. There are other causes for optimism besides the lucky pitch.
Shaun Marsh (31 not out) has form at the venue, after making 163 not out to power WA to victory here last month.
Travis Head (11 not out) looks tight and focused. And remember the skipper’s epic match-saving hand just two Tests back?
The weather won’t be a factor. It’s fine and heading for 29C.
9.15am: The scene out in the middle
Blue skies over Adelaide this morning as Australia prepares to continue their run chase in the First Test against India.
The home team requires another 219 runs to score a famous victory, while India requires just six wickets.
Perfect day for a run chase 👌 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/N3DMduwWme
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 9, 2018
7am: ‘DRS wouldn’t have saved Finch’
Australia are satisfied Aaron Finch’s dismissal would not have been overturned by the Decision Review System (DRS) after a day of umpiring blunders in the first Test against India.
Finch fell for 11 in the second innings at Adelaide Oval after being caught at bat-pad off the final ball before tea on day four.
Replays suggested the ball didn’t flick the gloves, meaning Finch — who quizzed opening partner Marcus Harris before walking — would have been saved if he had reviewed.
Off-spinner Nathan Lyon, however, said after play yesterday that he had spoken to third umpire Chris Gaffaney and been assured the evidence was inconclusive, meaning Finch’s dismissal could not have been overturned by the DRS. Finch had already referred an LBW verdict in the first over of the innings, only avoiding the ignominy of a pair because replays showed Ishant Sharma had delivered a no-ball.
Nathan Lyon explains Aaron Finch's non-review on day four #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/OoZcbDYbgn
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 9, 2018
“It was inconclusive evidence to overturn the decision,” Lyon said. “It’s been a great learning curve for Aaron. He’ll take a lot out of this first Test match at home and he’ll be better for the run.”
Lyon was left frustrated by the DRS on Sunday with umpire Nigel Llong erring several times.
The finger spinner was foiled early on day four when Llong gave Ajinkya Rahane out caught at bat-pad for 17, only for the decision to be overturned on review. Replays showed the ball struck Rahane’s front pad outside the line of off stump and missed both bat and gloves by a long way.
The reversal was a blow for Australia as Rahane (70) and Cheteshwar Pujara (71) pushed Australia’s victory target out to 323.
It was the third time in the match India had correctly reviewed a Lyon wicket with Englishman Llong responsible for each of the initial misjudgements. First-innings centurion Pujara was twice given out to Lyon on Saturday but had both dismissals overturned.
AAP
6.45am: Finch has form, Lalor says
The Australian’s senior sports writer Peter Lalor has criticised Australian opener Aaron Finch for failing to review his dismissal yesterday after replays could find no proof he got bat or glove to the bat-pad catch.
“Was it elite humility? Elite honesty? A lack of self-esteem? Or, worse, a defeated mindset?” Lalor writes in The Australian today.
“Finch has form. He opted not to review one in the ODI in Perth that ball tracker showed would have missed the stumps by quite some distance.
“Maybe he is just too nice a bloke, but while Australian cricket is calling out for the nice blokes to step up, this was neither the time nor place.
“You’ve got to value your wicket a lot more than that. It’s something you owe the team and yourself. Maybe it did hit, maybe the umpire in the eyrie would back the umpire in the field, but you have to ask.”
Read the full story here.
6.30am: Starc’s wayward radar
Mitchell Starc’s wayward bowling yesterday was in keeping with a lengthening trend, writes Andrew Faulkner in The Australian today.
“In 13 unlucky innings before yesterday, Starc had taken 12 first-class wickets at 60.5 apiece,” Faulkner says.
“The paceman’s dry run stretches back to immediately after the good old days of Durban, when Australia still had their banned men and sandpaper was free of suspicion and suffixes that rhyme with mate.”
Read the full story here.
Additional reporting: AAP
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