India win Adelaide Test by 31 runs, script history

Guwahati, December 10, 2018:

India trounced Australia by 31 runs in the first of the three-match Test series played at Adelaide on Monday. This is for the first time that India have won the first match of a Test series Down Under. The win came after ten years in the country.

Chasing 323 runs for victory, the Australian lower order batsmen had put up a resistance for two sessions until they were being bowled out for 291.

Shaun Marsh top scored for Australia with a gritty 60. Down the order, spinner Nathan Lyon remained unbeaten on 38. For India, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Shami shared three wickets apiece. Ishant Sharma picked up the other wicket.

Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony, India skipper Virat Kohli said: “These things (resistance by Australian lower order batsmen) happen in Tests, ups and downs through a game. Odds were stacked against them. They fought really well but we executed our plans well”.

Asked if he was nervous, Kohli said, "I wouldn't say I was cool as ice but you just don't try to show it. Jasprit was getting worked up in his last over but I just told him to relax. Super proud (of the bowlers), to have four bowlers and take 20 wickets is a great achievement. Something that we haven't done in the past”.

For India, Cheteshwar Pujara had shone with the bat in both innings scoring 123 and 71 runs.