The hosts Australia levelled the Test series after winning the second Test against the visitors India at the new Perth Stadium (Optus Stadium) by 146 runs. After winning this Test on day 5, the four-match Test series is now 1-1 with two Tests to go.
On the final day of the Test match, India only played 15 overs before getting bundled out. Starting the day on the overnight score 112/5, India only added seven runs before losing their first wicket of the day as Hanuma Vihari (28 runs).
After that, the other unbeaten overnight batsman, the wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant had an 18-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Umesh Yadav before facing the lower-order batting collapse.
When India was struggling on 137/6, Pant was dismissed on 30 runs and soon India was bundled out for just 140 runs while they had to chase 287 runs. While Umesh Yadav was caught and bowled by the Australian left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc for just 2 runs, other lower-order batsmen failed to open their accounts.
Among the Australian bowlers, the left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc (3/46) and the off-spinner Nathan Lyon (3/39) bagged three wickets each while the two other right-arm pacers Josh Hazlewood (2/24) and Pat Cummins (2/25) both picked up two wickets each.
While Australia won by 146 runs in this second Test of the series, the Aussie off-spinner Nathan Lyon won the Player of the Match award for his brilliant bowling. In this match, Lyon had a bowling figure of 53.5-10-106-8 (34.5-7-67-5 & 19-3-39-3).
Here are some Twitter reactions at the end of the game:
I think Australia won this test match with old fashioned stubbornness and grit on the 4th morning from Khawaja and Paine. It's been a good match in all respects for Paine
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 18, 2018
Wrong team selection for India , a long long tail and poor from the batters at the top. They were good in patches here but Australia were superb and it’s 1-1. India will need to up their game with a confident Australia now #AusvInd
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) December 18, 2018
Nathan Lyon is a great bowler…period.
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) December 17, 2018
Brilliant win Australia…A game where we saw hostile pace bowling, wonderful skilled spin and some courageous batting on both sides. The difference @NathLyon421
1-1 what a Box Day Test to relish! #AUSvIND— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) December 18, 2018
Quality performance from Australia this week … Tim Paine is a very very good leader who deserves all the credit … India got it wrong at the start with the wrong team .. @imjadeja should have played .. Great Test Match to cover on @FoxCricket .. #AUSvIND #1-1
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) December 18, 2018
Tough, uncompromising, don’t take a backward step cricket from the entire team. What a brilliant win from 🇦🇺 bring on Boxing Day!
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) December 18, 2018
India have huge issues at the top of the order and that often determines which way the team goes. And the tail is way too long. The fears that the bowling would take care of itself but the batting would struggle have come true here.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 18, 2018
Runs scored by Australia’s tail – 71
Runs scored by India’s tail – 11Runs scored by Australian openers – 165
Runs scored by Indian openers – 22And of course the @NathLyon421 factor.
Can’t wait for Boxing Day at the ‘G. @MitchJohnson398 @MClarke23#AusvIndia
— Sachet Sircar (@sachet_sircar) December 18, 2018
India bowlers contribute 11 runs across 2 innings.
That's disgraceful in the modern game, even against a quality attack.
Australia bowlers contribute 71 across 2 innings.#AusvIndia— Pfitzy (@NickPfitzner) December 18, 2018
https://twitter.com/sanjayplayer/status/1074891208269295616?s=20
What intresting to see is that when India losses a test match how the whole world attacks them…even few indians…looking forward to the next match, always team India
🇮🇳❤🇮🇳 #AusvIndia— Saurav Kumar Rai (@Sauravkumarrai1) December 18, 2018
#AusvIndia Great win for Australia! Great intesity with the ball and in the field! Cannot wait until the Boxing Day Test at the @MCG . Looking forward to seeing a comprehensive wrapup tonight on @7NewsSydney @Mel_Mclaughlin @JimWilsonTV
— Shannon (@TheAusChief) December 18, 2018
He might be a good slugger but Pant is a liability for India. Comes in under pressure and still only plays one way. Was lucky to survive last night. #AusvIndia #AUSvIND
— Mathew Thompson (@MathewJThompson) December 18, 2018
This is not the way how a test batting order should bat.. take the report correct mistakes & come back strong in next boxing day test match! #TeamIndia#AusvIndia
— Jagannadh chowdary (@sai_Jagannadh05) December 18, 2018
1-1 the series is all even now !!
Hope we play our best XI for boxing Day test !! #AusvIndia— Ashritha (@imashritha) December 18, 2018
India needs to do something about its top order batting and do it fast. Barring Pujara and to an extent Rahane, they are looking pedestrian. I am leaving Kohli out of this. He is batting on a different planet. #AusvIndia #INDvsAUS
— Pratik Gupta (@Pratik_G) December 18, 2018
India six down and Pant already has to farm the strike. Ashwin really is a huge, huge loss – but the absence of Jadeja, a very capable spinner who averages 32.4 with the bat in tests – will remain a mystery forever.#AUSvINDIA
— Giovanni Torre 🇦🇲 (@GiovanniTorre) December 18, 2018
Think with this result the theory of 4 pacers should be consigned to the bin forever … bad loss after such an encouraging result in the first test .. @imVkohli the lone performer ! But no spinners n such a long tail won’t work anywhere ! #AusvIndia
— nitin dhanuka (@nitindhanuka) December 18, 2018
Dear @imVkohli Sir, please choose a balanced team against a good side like #Australia.murli Vijay and L. Rahul should play First Class cricket to get back into form. @ImRo45 Should be given a chance to open along with Mayank aggrawal. I am not criticizing your team or anyone.
— Vishal Keshri (@imvkeshri1) December 18, 2018
