Shubman Gill and Ajinkya Rahane were on hand as India completed a resounding 8-wicket win at the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne against Australia to level the series at 1-1. This is the second consecutive time that India have won the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne.
India, who were chasing a small target of 70 on the afternoon of Day 4, lost the early wickets of Mayank Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara, however that was all the joy Australia would have on the day.
Gill and Rahane then batted through in very assured manner with the skipper hitting the winning runs of Nathan Lyon in 16th over. Gill remained unbeaten on 35 and Rahane finished with 27 not out. This is also the first time an Indian captain’s hundred on Australian soil has finished with the team on the winning side.
Earlier in the day, a large chunk of the Aussie runs on the day were made by all-rounder Cameron Green whose dogged innings was eventually ended by Siraj as he fell just 5 runs short of his half century.
Green’s 146-ball innings had started yesterday and continued into the first 90 minutes of play on Day 4 as he and Pat Cummins refused to let the Indian bowlers made any inroads.
India are without Umesh Yadav who injured his calf on Day 3 and has not bowled since picking the wicket of Joe Burns at the start of the innings.
The home team started the day on 133/6, leading by just 2 runs.
Overnight batsmen Cameron Green and Pat Cummins batted through the first hour of play, adding a total of 57 runs before Jasprit Bumrah picked the one wicket of the day - Cummins caught at second slip by Mayank Agarwal on 22. Australia were 156/7.
Mitchell Starc then joined Green and the two added a quick-fire 21 runs off 49 balls before Green was caught by Jadeja and Australia lost their eighth wicket.
Siraj then struck once again, picking the wicket of Nathan Lyon for a 15-ball-3.
Josh Hazlewood was the last of the Aussie cricketers to walk into bat as he joined Mitch Starc and they batted for 7 overs before Ashwin picked the last of the wickets.
Australia all out on 200.
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