India took the safety lead of the ongoing four-match Test series against the hosts Australia after beating them in the third Test of the series at Melbourne by 137 runs. With this victory, India has taken the 2-1 lead in the four-match Test series with one to go.
The crucial day five had the small naturalistic drama before the game started. The day start delayed due to the rain and it forced to take the lunch 15 minutes earlier than scheduled.
However, it started just after the end of the lunch break and the visiting side took around just 15-20 minutes to secure the game. Starting the day on their overnight score 258/8 against the target 399 runs, Australia was bundled out for 261 runs. Among the overnight batsmen, Pat Cummins (63 runs) added only two runs before Jasprit Bumrah (7 runs) dismissed him while Nathan Lyon only added one run before Ishant Sharma ended his innings.
Among the Indian bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah (3/53) and Ravindra Jadeja (3/82) both picked up three wickets each while Ishant Sharma (2/40) and Mohammed Shami (2/71) picked up two wickets each. India won the game by 137 runs and has taken the 2-1 lead of the series with one Test to go, starting on 3 January at Sydney. As they have secured the series, India will retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy this time as they won it previous time on their home soil (won by 2-1 during 2016/17 season).
Indian Pacer Jasprit Bumrah won the Player of the Match award for his brilliant bowling efforts in this game as he finished with the match bowling figure of 34.5-7-86-9.
Earlier in the game, India declared their first innings on 443/7 after winning the toss. Four Indian batsmen played 50+ knocks and those were Cheteshwar Pujara 106, Virat Kohli 82, Mayank Agarwal 76 and Rohit Sharma 63*.
In reply, Australia was bundled out for just 151 runs after Jasprit Bumrah’s dominating spell 15.5-4-33-6. None of the Australian batsmen reached the 30-run mark while the highest score was just 22 (Marcus Harris and Tim Paine).
India decided not to force the hosts for follow-on and scored 106/8 before another declaration. While only two Indian batsmen played 20+ knocks – Mayank Agarwal (42) and Rishabh Pant (33), Australian pacer Pat Cummins dominated that innings with the bowling figure of 11-3-27-6.
Here are some Twitter reactions:
Snapshots from the G as #TeamIndia beat Australia by 137 runs to take a 2-1 lead in the 4 match Test series 😎😃📸#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/lbHho6ljsz
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 30, 2018
Player of the Match goes to @Jaspritbumrah93 for his stupendous figures of 9-86 at the G 👏👏#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/0SCqzl8iVo
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 30, 2018
Incredible effort by #TeamIndia to take a 2-1 lead, especially @Jaspritbumrah93 who has played an instrumental role in this win. He has gone from strength to strength in all formats of the game. Definitely one of the best in the world today. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/vweoHd0nEE
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 30, 2018
What a win!! Proud to be part of this unit . Onto Sydney now. Jai hind 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/DsW8WXRMGj
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) December 30, 2018
Firsts are always special. In Australia, against Australia. On Boxing Day. The debut couldn't have been any sweeter. Thank you for the overwhelming welcome and support. 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/3nHuxVlvdc
— Mayank Agarwal (@mayankcricket) December 30, 2018
And that's a wrap on Melbourne! What a rollercoaster of a game it has been. Games like these bring out the true beauty of test cricket. Thank you all for your wishes. Ending 2018 with this lovely memory. On to the final one now! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/durwAO5HmC
— Cheteshwar Pujara (@cheteshwar1) December 30, 2018
Memorable win for #TeamIndia at the MCG. Great team effort and now we have an opportunity to create history at Sydney. Congratulations to each and every member of the team and to our domestic cricket where our cricketers enhance their skills. pic.twitter.com/osU6HHCSQl
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) December 30, 2018
Success isn't always about greatness. It's about consistency.😁
A dream win for us and what a way to end the year! 🇮🇳
Truly exceptional.#AUSvsIND pic.twitter.com/6Kaiy46v4O— Jasprit Bumrah (@Jaspritbumrah93) December 30, 2018
The pace triplet at The G. This was such a historic Test. Proud feeling to be a part of this group. Record breaking 130+ wickets in 2018 #TeamIndia @circleofcricket @ESPNcricinfo pic.twitter.com/wYreTY3XtT
— 𝕸𝖔𝖍𝖆𝖒𝖒𝖆𝖉 𝖘𝖍𝖆𝖒𝖎 (@MdShami11) December 30, 2018
T 3043 -YEEAAHH !! INDIA WINS !! 👍 Team India, Virat and Bumrah .. #chodhnamat ..
Stump mike पे Paine ने कोशिश करी अनेक ,
किस्सी तरह भी Rishabh Pant दें अपना wicket फेंक
'Baby sitting' का, निमंत्रण पत्र, दिया उन्होंने ने उनको
'Temporary कप्तान' का पलट जवाब भारी पड़ गया उनको pic.twitter.com/aBd1DhIRsX— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) December 30, 2018
Thrilled to see India win and take 2-1 lead in the series Down Under! Loving the way #TeamIndia has been playing in this series and they are also learning from mistakes made in the past. Let us make it 3-1 in Sydney. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/6Phk8X0dC6
— Vinod Kambli (@vinodkambli349) December 30, 2018
37 years 10 months ago was the last time India won a test at the MCG, none of the players from either sides were born. This win is one to savour & cherish for a long time and a perfect end to 2018 for Team India. Each player can be very proud of their contribution to this win👍
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) December 30, 2018
Top stuff 🇮🇳 2-1 up in the series #AUSvIND test series well done @Jaspritbumrah93 @cheteshwar1 @imVkohli proud of you guys.. make it 3-1 congratulations…Team india @BCCI
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) December 30, 2018
#teamindia is in such great shape. What a deserving win Congratulations, all! Special mention @Jaspritbumrah93 what a solid performance. Couldn't have gotten better! INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/YgHl3wuk7O
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) December 30, 2018
Great win here for the Team. Special effort by the lads, the one that will remembered for a long time @BCCI #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/TyVglQY7qO
— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) December 30, 2018
2,3,3,2. Second inngs wickets once again shared between four Indian bowlers. Sign of a very good bowling attack.
FAB FOUR in the bowling now!
👏👏👏🙏🙏🙏#AUSvsIND— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) December 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/shyam_oldschool/status/1079173581739720704
#AUSvIND
Ravi Shastri's post match advice to team India after they won the 3rd test pic.twitter.com/hLyJ1jygAN— Dr Gill (@ikpsgill1) December 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/Sagayaraj1115/status/1079256628694642688
This is the darkest day in Cricket Australia history. If anyone wants me, I'll be watching 2006/07 Ashes highlights. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/52mzAyN38B
— SimpsonsCricket (@CricketSimpsons) December 30, 2018
