1st Test: Virat Kohlis twin tons in vain as Nathan Lyon bowls Australia to win. Spinner Nathan Lyon took seven second-innings wickets and 12 for the match as Australia pulled off a stunning 48-run win over India on Saturday in the first Test at the Adelaide Oval. India looked set to achieve a record fourth-innings run chase after stand-in captain Virat Kohli (141) and opener Murali Vijay (99) led India through a second session without loss. But Australia took eight wickets in the final session, the match ended by Lyon on a stumping for the final wicket, prompting emotional celebrations by an Australia team playing its first match since the death of team-mate Phillip Hughes two weeks ago in a domestic match. Lyon, a former member of the Adelaide Oval ground staff early in his career, finished with match figures of 12 for 286 against an India side expert at playing off-spin bowling. I just had to keep asking question and lucky enough some went my way, Lyon of the many lbw appeals that the umpires turned down on Saturday. Before Lyons late heroics, Vijay and Kohli, subbing for injured skipper MS Dhoni, combined for a 150-run partnership in the second session on Saturday and looked set to save - or even help win - the Test. Needing 364 runs for victory from 98 overs on the final day, India were 105 for 2 at lunch and 205 for 2 at tea. The 159 further runs required in the final session was a temptingly achievable target for Indias batsmen, who kept playing their shots in pursuing a record run chase, rather than trying grind out a draw. The highest victorious fourth-innings Test total at the Adelaide Oval remains Australias 315 for 6 against England in 1902, while Australia-India Tests continue to go in favour of home teams, having now won 12 in a row. India lost two wickets in the opening session, including opener Shikhar Dhawan, caught by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin off the bowling of Mitchell Johnson when umpire Ian Gould incorrectly ruled the ball had deflected off the batsmans glove. The Decision Review System is not being used in the four-Test series in accordance with Indias policy. Australias victory was partially dampened by news that captain Michael Clarke may miss the remainder of the four-Test series after suffering yet another recurrence of his chronic back and hamstring problems. Clarke said following the win that the results of scans were not fantastic and he seems certain to at least miss the second Test starting in Brisbane on Wednesday. He was only passed fit to play in Adelaide on the eve of the game, due to a left hamstring strain sustained in a one-day match against South Africa on November 14. He had a recurrence of his long-term back injury while batting on Tuesdays opening day which forced him to retire hurt. He had injections to soothe spasms in his back and returned to the crease the next day to complete a century. However he pulled his right hamstring when fielding during the middle session on Saturday.
Posted on: Sat, 13 Dec 2014 08:56:29 +0000
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