Australia vs India 2018: 1st Test Match, Adelaide - Match Report

India won the first Test match at Adelaide by 31 runs as the match went down the wire. Australian tail gave a run for the money to the Indian bowlers as they refused to throw in the towel. Pat Cummins faced 121 balls for his 28, Mitchell Starc scored a quickfire 28 from 44 balls whereas Nathan Lyon kept the fans at the edge of their seats with a ferocious knock of unbeaten 38 to cause jitters in the Indian camp. Thus, it was a thumping Test match as it was a perfect exhibition of red ball format.

Nathan Lyon kept Australia in the game as he scored a fine knock of 38 runs. In fact, Nathan Lyon was dropped when Rishabh Pant could not hold on to a tough catch off the bowling of Jasprit Bumrah when he was on just seven runs.

It was a thumping Test match.

Australia’s lower order fought hard till the end as every run was cheered by the Australian crowd. The hosts started to get a whiff of a win when Hazlewood and Lyon posted a valiant partnership on the board. Furthermore, Lyon had scalped six wickets in the second innings.

Meanwhile, Cheteshwar Pujara was the star of the show for the Indian team as the right-hander scored 194 runs in the match and also bagged the Man of the match award. India had their backs against the wall on the opening day and Pujara was successful in rescuing the sinking ship.

However, Pujara was able to come up roses as he scored a fine knock of 123 runs in the first dig. Subsequently, Pujara backed his first innings performance with another solid knock in the second essay as he scored 71 runs.

Furthermore, Ajinkya Rahane was able to get back to form as he scored a fine knock of 70 runs. Consequently, India had posted a target of 323 runs and won by the skin of their teeth to win their sixth Test match on Australian soil.

Meanwhile, it was a fine collective team effort from the Indian team. Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah bagged three wickets each where Ishant Sharma scalped a solitary wicket in the second dig.

Brief Scores:

India 1st innings 250 (Pujara 123) and 2nd innings 307.

Australia 1st innings 235 and 2nd innings: 291.

India won by 31 runs