India’s historic triumph: overcoming Australia in landmark test victory

By Our Reporter
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India have etched their name into the annals of Test cricket history with a decisive eight-wicket victory over Australia at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. This victory, coming on the fourth and final day of the Test match, marks India’s first Test win against Australia, a feat that has eluded them since the two teams first clashed in the longest format back in 1977.

The final day of the match saw India in a comfortable position, requiring only 75 runs to seal the win. Their journey to this point was bolstered by a phenomenal performance early on the fourth day, where they dismantled Australia’s lower order, causing the visitors to lose 5-28 and be bowled out for a total of 261. The architects of this collapse were the quick Pooja Vastrakar and the spin duo of Sneh Rana and Rajeshwari Gayakwad, who together orchestrated the downfall of the Australian batting line-up.

Australia’s innings had a brief spark of resistance when Kim Garth dismissed opener Shafali Verma early. However, India’s batting lineup, led by Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh, showed resilience and skill. Ghosh had a narrow escape when Beth Mooney missed a catch at slip off Ashleigh Gardner’s bowling. Mandhana, on her part, capitalized on every opportunity, punishing any loose deliveries from the Australian pacers.

Alyssa Healy, the Australian captain, introduced spin from both ends after lunch in an attempt to stem the flow of runs. Although Ghosh was dismissed for 13, Mandhana remained undeterred and unbeaten at 38, striking a beautiful straight drive to clinch the historic win for India.

This victory is a testament to India’s growing prowess in women’s cricket, marking their first Test win over Australia following four defeats and ten draws in their previous encounters. For Australia, it was a sobering reminder of their vulnerability, being their first loss in the format since their Ashes defeat at the WACA Ground in January 2014.

The Australian team had earlier set themselves up for a competitive total late on day three at 3-206 but were unable to capitalize. Two crucial wickets by India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur before the end of the day’s play, followed by the dramatic collapse on Sunday, left Australia in a precarious position.

The final day’s play was marked by a series of dramatic reviews. Vastrakar’s in-swinger trapped Gardner lbw, a decision that was initially not given by the on-field umpire but was overturned upon review. Similarly, Annabel Sutherland’s lbw dismissal was overturned on review, providing a momentary counterattack for Australia. However, she couldn’t prolong her resistance and was eventually dismissed for 27, following another successful DRS intervention by India.

Rana and Gayakwad continued to wreak havoc on the Australian batting line-up. The off-spinner Rana claimed a wicket on a caught behind appeal, and Gayakwad, exploiting the spin-friendly conditions from the Tata end, dismissed both Garth and Jonassen in quick succession, bringing an end to Australia’s innings.

As India celebrates this monumental victory, the focus shifts to the upcoming three-game ODI series, starting on Boxing Day. The Australians, having to regroup after this defeat, will spend Christmas Day with family members who have travelled to India, before preparing for the ODIs.

The CommBank Tour of India has an exciting lineup ahead, including three ODIs and three T20Is, promising a thrilling continuation of this cricketing rivalry. The Australian squad, led by Alyssa Healy, will be keen to make a strong comeback, while India, buoyed by their historic Test win, will look to carry this momentum forward. The stage is set for an enthralling series of matches in the heart of Mumbai, as these two cricketing powerhouses continue their battle for supremacy.

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