Fri, 13 Jan 2012 - Australia vs India, India Tour of Australia 2011-12, 3rd Test Match

Final Score: India: 161 - 171 / 10 in 63.2 overs RR: 2.70, Australia: 369 in 76.2 overs RR: 4.83

Australia make it 3-0 with crushing win

Four years ago, India left the WACA with beaming faces and wide smiles. This time, it was a complete contrast as the visitors were steamrolled by a rampaging Australian side on the third day. After being shut out for 161 in the first innings, India folded for 171 second time around, thereby losing the third Test by a massive margin of an innings and 37 runs.

Courtesy this win, Australia took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the four match series. The Border-Gavaskar trophy that was in India’s possession would now be held by Michael Clarke’s men after the next Test at Adelaide. It was the seventh consecutive overseas loss for India under the captaincy of MS Dhoni.

Given the way India have been floored in Australia, the nightmarish memories of nineties have been revived when they simply couldn’t compete on foreign soil. The fact that the visitors couldn’t remain alive till half-way point of the match has left India lot to ponder over.

When they resumed at 88 for 4, India needed 120 more to avoid the ignominy of an innings defeat. Although, hopes of a recovery were miniscule after the much-vaunted top-order had been blown away yesterday, India would have wanted to at least get past 208, Australia’s first innings lead. The two overnight batsmen, Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid tried to take their team near but eventually the Australian bowlers proved too hot to handle.

The fifth wicket stand kept Australia at bay for more than an hour in the morning session. While Dravid was no where near his best but somehow survived, Kohli played with relative ease. They added 84 runs before Dravid was knocked over by an inswinging Ryan Harris delivery for 47. It was the fifth time in six innings that the so called “Wall” was razed to ground.

Skipper MS Dhoni once again made the mistake of pushing at a length delivery from Peter Siddle and the resulting edge was snaffled by a diving Ricky Ponting in the cordon. At Lunch, India were 165 for 6, still 43 runs behind.

After the break, Ben Hilfenhaus bowled a superb over to bring a swift end to a dismal batting effort. The first ball of third over accounted for Vinay Kumar and on the next one, Zaheer Khan could only fend a spitting cobra to Clarke. Although, Ishant Sharma survived the hat-trick ball but his resistance lasted only two deliveries as he offered a simple chance to short-leg.

Kohli, who had by then reached 75 saw his dream of reaching a maiden Test hundred vanish in space of five deliveries. In the next over, he edged Siddle to the keeper and the rout was completed with a shocking collapse, the last four wickets fell on the same score.

Day 2: Bulletin on next page