Ashwin grabs five as India complete huge win over Australia in Nagpur

Team India took a 1-0 lead in the Border Gavaskar series with a masterful performance against Australia on day three of the first Test in Nagpur. The Men in Blue frustrated the tourists with some more runs from the lower order before bowling out Pat Cummins’ side for just 91 in the third innings to register a comprehensive victory by an innings and 132 runs.

Ravichandran Ashwin picked up his 31st Test five-wicket haul for India, while Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami chipped in with a couple each to bowl out Australia in a single session and script a famous win for the hosts.

India entered day three with a substantial lead of 144, and the Men in Blue added a further 79 runs for the final three wickets to post a total of 400. Ravindra Jadeja departed early in the day, shouldering arms to a delivery that went straight on from Todd Murphy and clattered into the stumps to fall for 70. However, Axar Patel shepherded the tail smartly to add some more valuable runs in the morning.

Patel shared a half-century partnership with Mohammed Shami, who freed his arms and hit three sixes in a handy cameo of 37. Patel was well on course for a maiden century but was eventually undone by a Pat Cummins slower ball to depart for 84, giving India a substantial 223-run first innings lead.

 In reply, Australia’s hopes of making any comeback in the Test suffered an instant blow as Ravichandran Ashwin removed Usman Khawaja in the second over, inducing an edge with a tossed up delivery. The wickets continued to tumble throughout the afternoon session as India’s spin duo of Ashwin and Jadeja ran circles around the Australian batting line-up with their relentless accuracy. The left-armer dismissed Marnus Labuschagne for the second time in the match, while Ashwin pocketed left-handers David Warner and Matt Renshaw in quick succession.

The off-spinner also got one to grip and pin Pete Handscomb on the pads and later completed his five-wicket haul with the wicket of Alex Carey, who was dismissed LBW while attempting the sweep for the second time in the match.

Steve Smith remained a lone spectator at the other end while the wickets kept falling, and the Indians wrapped up the victory within the same session to bowl Australia out in just 32.3 overs. Axar Patel got his first wicket of the match to dismiss Todd Murphy, and Mohammed Shami picked up the final two wickets to clean up the tail, lifting India to a commanding innings victory to start the four-match series.