Having lost the first match in Adelaide, Australia made an astounding comeback in Perth. It was the brand new stadium in Perth as the venue migrated from the WACA to the Optus Stadium. There was always a keen eye on the pitch whether it would produce a similar pace and bounce as the WACA.
The new venue indeed lived up to the expectations as the ball was flying through all the time. The Indian bowlers had a great time but the batsmen faltered that cost them the game. Australia won the toss and elected to bat on a surface that was covered with green and lively grass. But opposite to the expectations, there wasn’t much on offer for the bowlers initially.
Marcus Harris and Aaron Finch added 112 runs for the first wicket as both scored fifties. The Indian bowlers made a good comeback and restricted the opposition to 326. India’s batting in the first innings was all about Virat Kohli who made a wonderful 123. Ajinkya Rahane also made a half-century but India fell short of Australian total by 43 runs.
Mohammed Shami bagged his career-best figures of 56/6 in the second innings. However, Australia dragged the score to 243 on the back of 72 by Usman Khawaja. As a result, India had to chase 287 to win. The visitors were never in the chase and lost wickets at regular intervals. In the end, India got bowled out for 140 which meant Australia won by 146 runs and leveled the series 1-1 with 2 Tests to go.
Match Summary
Australia won the toss and opted to bat first
Australia 1st innings:Â 326/10 in 108.3 overs
Marcus Harris 70 (141), Travis Head 58 (80)
Ishant Sharma 41/4 (20.3), Jasprit Bumrah 53/2 (26)
India 1st innings:Â 283/10 in 105.5 overs
Virat Kohli 123 (257), Ajinkya Rahane 51 (105)
Nathan Lyon 67/5 (34.5), Josh Hazlewood 66/2 (21)
Australia 2nd innings:Â 243/10 in 93.2 overs
Usman Khawaja 72 (213), Tim Paine 37 (116)
Mohammed Shami 56/6 (24), Jasprit Bumrah 39/3 (25.2)
India 2nd innings: 140/10 in 56 overs
Ajinkya Rahane 30 (47), Rishabh Pant 30 (61)
Nathan Lyon 39/3 (19), Mitchell Starc 46/3 (17)
Australia won by 146 runs
Player of the Match:Â Nathan Lyon
Here’s how Twitter reacted to Australia’s win in Perth
Congratulations to Australia on a big comeback. The key was their opening partnership in the 1st innings & scoring 326. @mstarc56 & #Hazlewood didn’t allow good partnerships upfront in both the innings. @NathLyon421 continues his magic by picking crucial wickets. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/QH59HSbtXA
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 18, 2018
Tough, uncompromising, don’t take a backward step cricket from the entire team. What a brilliant win from 🇦🇺 bring on Boxing Day!
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) December 18, 2018
India have huge issues at the top of the order and that often determines which way the team goes. And the tail is way too long. The fears that the bowling would take care of itself but the batting would struggle have come true here.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 18, 2018
This is what happens when you don’t pick a spinner India! 🤣🤣🤣 https://t.co/rGOMMbdvtx
— Dean Jones AM (@ProfDeano) December 18, 2018
I think Australia won this test match with old fashioned stubbornness and grit on the 4th morning from Khawaja and Paine. It's been a good match in all respects for Paine
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 18, 2018
https://twitter.com/MitchJohnson398/status/1074868815819722752
https://twitter.com/ProfDeano/status/1074868561783402496
Quality performance from Australia this week … Tim Paine is a very very good leader who deserves all the credit … India got it wrong at the start with the wrong team .. @imjadeja should have played .. Great Test Match to cover on @FoxCricket .. #AUSvIND #1-1
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) December 18, 2018
Brilliant win Australia…A game where we saw hostile pace bowling, wonderful skilled spin and some courageous batting on both sides. The difference @NathLyon421
1-1 what a Box Day Test to relish! #AUSvIND— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) December 18, 2018
In Tests outside India in 2018:
Avg runs added by 1st & 2nd wkts for India- 17
Avg runs added by 9th & 10th wkts vs India- 18#AUSvIND #INDvAUS— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) December 17, 2018
Only two centuries in two Tests…both from the Indian bats. Yet Australia have scored more as a team across two Tests…tells you where the team is faltering. #ausvInd #7cricket @7Cricket
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 18, 2018
This is India's seventh overseas defeat this year in Tests which is a record. The previous record was six in 2014.#AUSvIND
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) December 18, 2018
The last Test side to win toss, bat first & lose: West Indies at Hyderabad in Oct 2018
Since then in the last 13 Tests, all sides winning toss and batting first have WON!#AusvInd#AusvsInd— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 18, 2018
Nathan Lyon is outstanding …. Finger spin is alive and kicking !! #AUSvIND
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) December 17, 2018
Perth Test:
Ind: Extra pacer (Umesh) – 2/139
Aus: Lone spinner (Lyon) – 8/106… and Virat says they didn't even consider the option of playing a spinner! #AUSvIND #INDvAUS
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) December 18, 2018
Plenty can be learned from a loss. India not only played 4 fast bowlers, but 4 number 11 batsmen who had to bat 8-9- 10-11 . Still Australia got 100 + start and India started poorly in both innings. Hope India can turn things around in Melbourne
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) December 18, 2018
Expected Australia to have a stronger say at Perth…wicket-less first session of the Test set up the tempo. India were always playing a catching-up game after that. A wicket-less first session on the 4th morning just sealed the deal. #IndvAus #7cricket @7Cricket
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 18, 2018
Congratulations to Australia on this very comprehensive win. India will need to believe in themselves, learn from their mistakes and comeback stronger in Melbourne
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) December 18, 2018
Wrong team selection for India , a long long tail and poor from the batters at the top. They were good in patches here but Australia were superb and it’s 1-1. India will need to up their game with a confident Australia now #AusvInd
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) December 18, 2018
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