Australia produced a fantastic bowing performance as they defeated India comprehensively by 146 runs in the second Test at the Optus stadium in Perth on Tuesday.
With this win, the hosts level the series 1-1 with the remaining two test matches to be played in Melbourne and Sydney respectively.
The win in Perth was also skipper Tim Paine’s first win as Australia captain and also coach Justin Langer’s maiden victory.
Resuming at 112/5, India’s hopes of winning rested on the overnight duo of Hanuma Vihari and Rishabh Pant.
However Mitchell Starc effectively ended India’s hope by claiming the wicket of Vihari who was caught by Marcus Harris for 28.
Pant, who was running out of partners, tried to accelerate but miscued a drive off Nathan Lyon at mid wicket where Peter Handscomb took a superb diving catch.
India’s fragile tail had too much to do, and were peppered with a barrage of short deliveries by the Australian pacers.
Umesh Yadav hung around for 23 balls, before tamely fending a short delivery back to Starc, leaving the score at 139 for eight.
Ishant Sharma who normally puts his a price on his wicket, didn’t see much value in hanging around as he backed away and edged a Pat Cummins delivery to wicket keeper Paine for a duck.
Jasprit Bumrah was the last man to be dismissed while trying to go for a big heave, but only succeeding in skying the ball to Cummins, who took a good catch of his own bowling. It took the Australians a little over an hour to end proceedings on Day 5.
The wickets were shared all round, with spinner Nathan Lyon and Starc claiming 3 wickets each, while Hazlewood and Cummins bagged 2 wickets apiece.
Lyon was declared the Player of the Match for his eight wicket haul, which included the key wickets of Ajinkya Rahane in the first innings and Virat Kohli in the second.
The third test between India and Australia will be played at Melbourne on Boxing Day (December 26)