Agencies
Adelaide, December 13
Nathan Lyon took 7-157 to add to his five-for in the first innings as Australia won the first Test in Adelaide by 48 runs, 10 days after the funeral of former team-mate Phillip Hughes.
Set 364 to win on the final day – after a second hundred of the match from David Warner on day four – India were looking well placed at tea on 205-2 with Murali Vijay and Virat Kohli both unbeaten and nearing centuries.
Kohli would go on to reach three figures for the second time in the match too – eventually dismissed for a career-best 141 – but it was the wicket of Vijay for 99 that proved to be decisive.He had been dropped just before tea by debutant Mitchell Marsh off Mitchell Johnson, but fell after adding just 14 more runs, lbw to Lyon.
It started a collapse, with the next seven wickets falling for just 73 runs – Lyon accounting for a further five of them. His departure deflated India and Australia wrapped things up within the next six overs.
Earlier, Mitchell Johnson was fortunate to remove Shikhar Dhawan – replays suggesting the ball had flicked the batsman’s shoulder rather than the bat – before Lyon accounted for Cheteshwar Pujara, who edged behind.
Australia then suffered a setback when skipper Michael Clarke sustained a serious right hamstring injury and was sent to hospital for scans.
Vijay and Kohli stood their ground and rebuilt well to the point that going into the final session the visitors required 159 from the remaining 37 overs.
Post-tea both batsmen were on 99 with the score on 236-2 and Kohli duly went on to reach his second hundred of the Test courtesy of a single off Ryan Harris.
Vijay fell agonisingly short, however, when he was adjudged lbw to Lyon and Ajinkya Rahane quickly followed – caught off the spinner for a fifth-ball duck.
Lyon continued to keep the pressure on, Rohit Sharma fending a turning delivery into the hands of leg slip and he completed his maiden 10-wicket Test haul by bowling Wriddhiman Saha.
Indian hopes remained firmly on Kohli's shoulders but were undone when majestic innings then came to a close when he miscued Lyon - Marsh making up for his earlier error with the catch.
All three results were nonetheless still possible with India requiring 60 runs off 16 overs with three wickets in hand.
But just five runs later Harris removed Mohammed Shami and Varun Aaron quickly followed, trapped lbw by Johnson.
The end of the match came quickly enough, Brad Haddin stumping Ishant Sharma by a distance off Lyon to seal a thrilling Test and spark Australian celebrations.
The second Test starts at December 17 at Brisbane.
