Steve Smith claimed the victory he craved in his first test as Australia’s captain, even though he had to leave it to Mitchell Johnson to complete a nervous run chase in the second test against India on Saturday. Day 4: Statistical Highlights
Chasing 128, the Australians reached 130-6 to win by four wickets with a day to spare and take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series. Johnson was unbeaten at the non-striker’s end when Mitchell Marsh hit the winning boundary late on day four.
The see-sawing match turned on two big contributions from Johnson. His 88 from 93 balls in a 148-run partnership with century-maker Smith was crucial to Australia recovering from a middle-order slump in its first innings to reach 505 – a 97-run lead. He followed with a destructive opening spell of three wickets in 11 balls on Saturday to trigger India’s batting collapse, restricting the tourists to 224 in the second innings.
“It was just amazing. The way that Mitch came out and took the bowlers on from ball one was outstanding – that was a big turning point in the game, to get that partnership there with Mitch,” Smith said. Of Johnson’s three-wicket burst in 11 balls, Smith added: “He certainly turned it on today for that little spell. He cracked the game open for us.”
The bowlers reveled on a fourth-day pitch at the Gabba, with 15 wickets tumbling in all, leaving India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni wondering what could have been if his team had scored an extra 50 runs.
Ishant Sharma (3-38) removed David Warner (6), Shane Watson (0) and Chris Rogers (55) and Umesh Yadav ran out Smith (28) and had Shaun Marsh (17) and Brad Haddin (1) caught to briefly renew India’s victory hopes.
Smith became the first Australian in 39 years to score a century in his first test innings as captain, having been elevated to the role after Michael Clarke was injured during the 48-run win at Adelaide
“It’s nice when you win any test match, for me it’s extra special being the first one as captain,” Smith said.
“I’ve enjoyed the whole thing. The way the boys came back from the first day was remarkable. All that heat stroke, the boys going down like flies. A great comeback from that situation.”
Dhoni said his team was distracted by a wrist injury which Shikhar Dhawan sustained in the practice nets in the hour before Saturday’s play, meaning he was unable to bat when India resumed at 71-1.
“That was one area where we could have handled better,” Dhoni said. “The exciting thing is we have competed. The competition has been good, though the results have not been in our favor.
“What was important is that until the last runs are scored, that you fight it out with the opposition. We were able to get a few wickets and that gives a lot of confidence.”
India was on top early in the match, posting the highest first-day total by a foreign team in a test at the Gabba to reach 311-4 before Australia hit back on day two with an early five-wicket haul for Josh Hazlewood on his test debut.
India began day four with legitimate hopes of victory, but it quickly unraveled for the tourists due to Johnson’s withering first spell.
He had Virat Kohli (1) out chopping onto his stumps to trigger the slide, then had Ajinkya Rahane (10) caught at gully by Nathan Lyon and Rohit Sharma (0) caught behind. Hazlewood trapped Dhoni (0) lbw as India slumped to 87-5.
Ravi Ashwin (19) was contentiously given out, caught behind off Mitchell Starc to a ball that appeaed to miss the edge, bringing Dhawan back to the crease to rejoin overnight partner Cheteshwar Pujara with the total at 117-6.
Hazlewood struck again, having Pujara (43) caught ed lbw to Lyon. Johnson (4-61) finished off the innings when he had Yadav caught behind. out fending to gully, and Dhawan (81) continued with Yadav (30) in a 60-run stand until he was trapp
The Indian innings was overshadowed by complaints about the condition of the practice wickets, with team management saying the uneven bounce caused Dhawan and Kohli’s morning injuries.
