Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, March 3: On a rank turner in Indore on Friday, Australia defeated India with a decisive nine-wicket victory to wrap up the third Test in just over two days and book their spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The visitors lost Usman Khawaja (0) in the first over, and it was Travis Head (49) and Marnus Labuschagne (28) who led them over the finish line. After being destroyed inside three days in the first two matches of the Border-Gavaskar trophy, Australia needed just 76 runs to win when the hosts were bowled out for 163 in their second innings.
Experienced off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who claimed eight wickets in the Indian second innings on day two of the match at Holkar Stadium, was one of the main architects of the Australian victory.
In the past ten years, India has only lost three home Test matches.
India, who were dismissed for 109 in their first innings, performed well to restrict Australia to 197 runs, giving up an 88-run advantage. Nevertheless, in their second effort, the Indian batsmen similarly failed to put up a fight as Lyon threw a web around them and returned fantastic figures of 8-64.
India has triumphed in Nagpur and New Delhi to take a 2-1 series advantage.
Brief scores: India 109 and 163 Australia: 197 and 78 for 1 in 18.5 overs (Travis Head 49 not out).
