WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018 16 Aussies level India series Australia register their first win in the longest format since ball-tampering scandal

Australia 1st innings 326 (M. Harris 70, T. ’s ‘new Head 58; Sharma 4-41) Australian• team’ proves India 1st innings 283 (V Kohli 123, A Rahane 51; Lyon 5-67) its capability to produce Australia 2nd innings 243 (Khawaja 72; right results after Shami 6-56) victory in second Test India 2nd innings KL Rahul b Starc 0 M. Vijay b Lyon 20 , C. Pujara c Paine b Hazlewood 4 Mitchell• Starc blow V. Kohli c Khawaja b Lyon 17 away lower order taking A. Rahane c Head b Hazlewood 30 H. Vihari c Harris b Starc 28 three apiece R. Pant c Handscomb b Lyon 30 U. Yadav c and b Starc 2 AFP | Perth, Australia I. Sharma c Paine b Cummins 0 M. Shami 0 ustralia Tim J. Bumrah c and b Cummins 0 Extras (b6, w3) 9 Paine was a relieved man Total (all out, 56 overs) 140 after his team beat India A Australia won by 146 runs by 146 runs in Perth yesterday to Series level 1-1 level the series with their first Test win since the ball-tamper- openers and Mar- ing ‘sandpapergate’ scandal that cus Harris on the first day, saying rocked international . their partnership was Set 287 to win, India resumed critical to the final result, and at 115 for five on the final day lauded the growing leadership and never threatened to pull of Lyon. off a miraculous victory, losing He said he expected Finch, who split an index finger while their last five wickets for just 21 Manchester United’s Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho leaves the pitch following the UEFA Champions League group H football match between Manchester runs. United and Young Boys (file photo) in the second innings, to India were dismissed for be fit for the third Test in Mel- 140, with spinner Nathan Lyon od in Australian cricket behind Despite the lively and at times on Bancroft was caught using bourne in eight days. claiming 3-39 to finish with them. unpredictable , Kohli said sandpaper to alter the ball and Having already lost first in- eight wickets for the match “I’m relieved personally,” he the Indians were confident they Australian cricket was plunged nings centurion Kohli for 17 on and guide the home team to a said. could chase down the target, into turmoil. the fourth day, India’s hope rest- drought-breaking success, their “It’s been hard work -- the but paid credit to the Australian The scandal led to lengthy sus- ed on overnight batsmen Hanu- first in seven Tests spanning al- first two Tests of this series have bowlers. KNOW WHAT pensions from ma Vihari and Rishabh Pant. most 10 months. been really tough. “We had the belief we could for Bancroft, Smith and opener However, Vihari added just It was Paine’s first Test win “We’ve got some inexperi - do it,” he said. and saw Paine ap- four to his overnight score and in five matches since taking enced players in terms of Test “They were more relentless pointed as skipper just months fell to , who took over from the suspended Steve matches played, to get a win like and got the balls in the right ar- In March, the men’s after being recalled to the side. 3-46, for 28. Smith in , and also that against the best Test team in eas for long enough.” Australia’s best result in the The right-hander tried to flick the first victory for new coach the world is going to give them a Both captains played down Australian team four previous Tests since the the ball through the leg side, bal- , coming in his huge boost of confidence.” the on-field banter during the was involved in a scandal was narrowly hanging looned a simple catch to Harris hometown. match, saying it never crossed ball-tampering scan- on for a draw against Pakistan at midwicket and the last four Paine, who was involved in a Kohli defends selections the line of what was acceptable. dal during and after in Dubai. wickets followed quickly. verbal spat with Indian counter- Kohli defended his side’s deci- Australia’s previous Test win the third Test match They had also won only six of The last man to fall was Jas- part on the third and sion to play four fast bowlers in- was against South Africa at St against South Africa 22 one-day internationals and prit Bumrah, who went for a fourth days, said the overwhelm- stead of picking Ravindra Jadeja George’s Park in March. in Cape Town matches since the big shot but only succeeded in ing emotion was relief at finally to replace injured spinner Ravi It was during the following scandal. skying a chance back to bowler being able to put a dark peri - Ashwin. Test at Newlands that Camer- Paine praised the efforts of . Messi claims record fifth Golden Shoe India hits out at AFP | Barcelona, Spain war claims during Test AFP | Perth, Australia captain’. ionel Messi collected a “These claims were based Lrecord fifth Golden Shoe ndia yesterday slammed on hearsay and the BCCI would award yesterday for finishing I“baseless” reports of a sledg- like to bring into notice that last season as the top goalscorer ing showdown between rival no such words were spoken in Europe. captains Tim Paine and Virat on the field by Indian captain.” The striker scored 34 goals in Kohli during the second Aus- It added: “The BCCI got a 68 games for Barcelona, putting tralia-India Test. clarification from the team him ahead of Liverpool’s Mo- The Indian team manage- management about the inci- hamed Salah and Tottenham’s ment strongly denied reports dent and would like to classify Harry Kane. that Kohli had belittled Paine the reports as baseless.” Cristiano Ronaldo, who has as just “a stand-in captain”. Australia’s win was their first won the award four times, hit Both skippers were warned by in a Test since a ball-tampering 26 goals in 52 matches for Real Chris Gaffaney during scandal in March, which trig- Madrid. the game which Australia won gered a damning review of a After being presented with by 146 runs. win-at-all-costs team culture. his latest prize in Barcelona, The Board of Control for Exchanges between Kohli Messi said: “The truth is I had Cricket in India said: “It is ‘as- and Paine were picked up no idea this would happen when sumed’ that Kohli said, ‘I am by stump microphones and I started. I dreamt of playing the best player in the world prompted Gaffaney’s call to professional football and enjoy- and you are just a stand-in “play the game”. ing success, I love the game, but I never imagined I would have so much. “I enjoy the work, the ef -

Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi poses with his five Golden Shoe awards

fort, I’m at the best team in the Messi also discussed Mon- Manchester City, one of the best 34 world and play with the best day’s Champions League draw, teams in the world. goals were scored by team-mates in the world, so which pitted Barca against Lyon “It will be difficult to go Lionel Messi in 68 games everything is easier.” in the round of 16. through, but the opportunity for Barcelona, putting The ceremony was attended “Lyon will be a complicated is there for us. We have sever- him ahead of Liverpool’s by Barcelona president Josep opponent,” Messi said. “Even if al Frenchmen in the team like Mohamed Salah and Maria Bartomeu, as well as fel- they are not known as one of the Samuel Umtiti and Malcom, Tottenham’s Harry Kane low players like Sergio Busquets strongest teams, they are dan- who played in France, so per- and Sergi Roberto. gerous as they showed against haps they can help as well.” Virat Kohli of India and Tim Paine of Australia bump into each other