BRISBANE, Australia, Jan 19, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – India pulled off a record
run-chase in a thrilling final session to hand Australia their first defeat
at Brisbane’s Gabba ground since 1988 and clinch the four-Test series 2-1 on
Tuesday.
Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant starred with a swashbuckling 89 not out as the
injury-depleted visitors overhauled the 328-run target with three overs to
go, winning by three wickets.
Australia had not been beaten at the Gabba since falling to Viv Richards’
all-conquering West Indies side by nine wickets in November 1988.
India’s 329 for seven also smashed the 69-year-old record for the biggest
run-chase at the ground, set by Australia who scored 236 for seven to beat
the West Indies in 1951.
The Border-Gavaskar series win was a stunning turnaround after India were
bowled out for their lowest Test score of 36 to lose the first Test in
Adelaide, before bouncing back to win the second in Melbourne.
The visitors, ravaged by injuries and captain Virat Kohli’s absence for
paternity leave, then bravely batted throughout the final day to draw the
third Test in Sydney.
Australian media called the win a “miracle”, while former England captain
Michael Vaughan said it was “one of the greatest if not the greatest Test
victory of all time”.
“It really means a lot to us. I don’t know how to describe this victory but
I’m really proud of all the boys,” said India’s interim skipper Ajinkya
Rahane.
“They showed character, attitude, especially after the Adelaide Test match.
We decided we’re going to fight really hard… and we just wanted to give our
best.”
Man-of-the-match Pant, who played a similarly explosive innings in the
drawn Sydney Test, blasted his 89 from 138 balls with nine fours and a six.
His innings followed an equally impressive knock from 21-year-old Shubman
Gill, who made 91 at the top of the order earlier in the day.
– ‘Completely outplayed’ –
Cheteshwar Pujara’s 56 was also vital, the gritty number three hit 10 times
by Australia’s quicks, taking blows to the fingers, arm, ribs and head as he
was subjected to a searching examination by Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
Cummins with 4-55 was easily the pick of the Australian attack, but the
rest of the bowlers looked fatigued after bowling all day in Sydney just
eight days ago.
“I’m absolutely disappointed, no doubt about that,” said Australia captain
Tim Paine.
“It’s probably a little bit of a trend the whole series — I think in the
key moments we were found wanting and completely outplayed by a really
disciplined, really tough Indian side who fully deserved the series win.”
Despite Australia’s fearsome record at the Gabba, the Indian batsmen showed
no fear and never looked interested in playing for a draw, even after losing
the wickets of Pujara and Mayank Agarwal after tea.
Pant took advantage of any loose ball, but also played some outrageous
strokes, showing the influence of T20 cricket.
– High injury toll –
India started the day on four for none after bowling Australia out for 294
late on the fourth day.
Australia raised hopes of a series-clinching Rohit Sharma edged Cummins to
wicketkeeper Paine, who took a fine diving catch.
But as India have shown since their capitulation in Adelaide, they are
never out of the contest.
Their effort in the fourth Test is even more admirable considering the high
injury toll on tour.
Their bowling attack was led by Mohammad Siraj, who debuted in Melbourne,
supported by Navdeep Saini, Shardul Thakur, T. Natarajan and Washington
Sundar, who had two Tests between them.
After just one wicket in the first session, Australia could only manage two
after lunch, with Gill falling for his superb 91 and skipper Rahane a
quickfire 24.
Gill was magnificent on a fifth-day wicket, smashing the Australian bowlers
to all corners.
He hit eight fours and two towering sixes in his 146-ball innings before he
became Nathan Lyon’s 398th Test victim, edging an arm ball to first slip
where Steve Smith took a sharp catch.
With Pujara putting down the anchor at one end, Rahane raced to 24 from
just 22 balls before he edged Cummins to Paine to leave India 167 for three.
India looked in control through the final session and despite losing three
wickets in the last hour, they got home with three overs to spare when Pant
hit the winning four off Hazlewood.