Melbourne, Tuesday: Stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane led India to a dominant eight-wicket win over Australia in the second Test Tuesday, levelling the series 1-1 and capping an extraordinary turnaround after their record collapse in the opening game.
Rahane, deputising during Virat Kohli's paternity leave, hit an unbeaten 27 in Melbourne -- after a century in the first innings -- as India reached the meagre target of 70 for the loss of two wickets.
It capped a remarkable comeback for an Indian team desperate to make amends after losing in Adelaide by eight wickets, when they posted their lowest ever score of 36 and were widely criticised at home.
And they bounced back without superstar and batting maintstay Kohli, who has returned home for the birth of his first child.
Under the mild-mannered Rahane, they battled hard to dismiss Australia for 195 in the first innings and then posted 326 in reply.
Australia resumed their second innings on day four on 133 for six with a two-run lead, and their hopes resting on 21-year-old rookie all-rounder Cameron Green.
He made 45 as they battled to 200 before tail-ender Josh Hazlewood was the last man to fall before lunch.
Mohammed Siraj, on debut, took 3-37 with Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin grabbing two each.
Rahane and another impressive debutant, Shubman Gill (35) then saw India home, but not before some nervous moments. Mitchell Starc got a nick from the out-of-form Mayank Agarwal (5), which Tim Paine caught, then Pat Cummins snared Cheteshwar Pujara for three, edged to Green at gully. It left India on 19 for two before they regained their composure to seal the win. Australia collapsed to 99 for six in the run chase on Monday before Green and Cummins knuckled down to weather 18 overs and steer them to stumps. Green, who has been on fire with the bat in the domestic Sheffield Shield this season, showed glimpses of his magic, cutting Ashwin and driving Bumrah beautifully for fours, while also exhibiting patience.
But Green, in only his second Test, was undone by Siraj, caught by Jadeja as he looked to find the boundary with a pull shot, ending a 146-ball stay. Cummins survived chances on 15 and 19, but when Bumrah took the new ball and found more swing and bounce he finally fell, gloving a rising delivery to Agarwal to end a battling 57-run partnership with Green. AFP
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