Business Standard

India go 3-0 up with last-hour win

The Australians have now lost six straight Tests in India

Image

Bloomberg Sydney
India beat Australia by six wickets in the third cricket Test in Mohali to go 3-0 up in their best- of-four contest and regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni smashed three straight boundaries to help guide India past the victory target of 133 with 15 balls remaining. Australia was earlier dismissed for 223 in its second innings, as

India's spin bowlers took the seven remaining wickets on day five.

India, which was swept 4-0 in Australia in 2011-12, will now seek to win four Tests in a series for the first time when the teams get to Delhi for the final match starting in four days. The Australians have now lost six straight Tests in India.
 
"We've played really well and exploited the conditions," Dhoni said at the presentation ceremony. "Everybody has contributed at some point. I'm very happy with the performance. We may try a few things in Delhi but it is important to win Test matches, especially at home."

Shikhar Dhawan was named as the man of the match after smashing the fastest debut century in 136 years of elite Tests. The left-hander, who reached three figures off 85 balls, top- scored with 187 and shared a 289-run opening partnership with Murali Vijay to help India amass 499 in reply to Australia's first-innings 408.

India's win in Mohali came even after the entire first day was lost to rain and Australia's opening batsmen put on 139 runs, the team's highest first-wicket stand in a Test in India.

"We'll continue to learn," Australia captain Michael Clarke said. "We're disappointed that we lost the game but hopefully we can finish on a high in Delhi."

Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel

First Published: Mar 19 2013 | 12:20 AM IST

Explore News