26 Sports Tuesday, December 11, 2018 India end 10-year Australia drought in first-Test thriller Pant helps India win with world record 11 catches ADELAIDE: India won their first Test on Australian soil in SCOREBOARD a decade yesterday, bowling out the home side in a nail- biting finale to clinch the opening match and raise hopes of Scoreboard of the first Test between Australia and their first ever series victory Down Under. India at the Adelaide Oval yesterday: Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant pouched a world record- equalling 11 catches for the match as India, after setting an improbable target of 323, finally dismissed Australia to win India 1st innings 250 (Pujara 123; Hazlewood 3-52) by 31 runs on day five at Adelaide Oval. Australia 1st innings 235 (Head 72; Bumrah 3-47, Australia, attempting what would have been a record Ashwin 3-57) chase at the ground, gallantly battled to 291 before Josh Hazlewood became the last man to fall to Ravichandran India 2nd innings 307 (Pujara 71, Rahane 70; Lyon 6- Ashwin, who finished with 3-92. Shaun Marsh made 62 122, Starc 3-40) and Tim Paine 41. It was a huge breakthrough for captain Virat Kohli’s Australia 2nd innings (overnight 104-4) men, who went 1-0 up with three Tests to go after becom- ing the first Indian team to win the opening match of a Test A. Finch c Pant b Ashwin 11 series in Australia. Pant took the plaudits after matching M. Harris c Pant b Shami 26 the record of 11 catches in a Test held by England’s Jack U. Khawaja c Sharma b Ashwin 8 Russell and South Africa’s AB de Villiers. India’s last Test success in Australia was at the WACA S. Marsh c Pant b Bumrah 60 Ground in Perth in 2008, and the previous one in Adelaide P. Handscomb c Pujara b Shami 14 was 2003. They have now won just six times in Australia in T. Head c Rahane b Sharma 14 more than 70 years. But with the home team missing banned batsmen Steve Smith and David Warner, Kohli and T. Paine c Pant b Bumrah 41 his team sensed ahead of the tour that this could be their ADELAIDE: India’s captain Virat Kohli (L) celebrates with spin bowler Ravichandran Ashwin (R) after beating P. Cummins c Kohli b Bumrah 28 opportunity to make history by winning the series. Australia on day five of the first Test cricket match at the Adelaide Oval yesterday. — AFP M. Starc c Pant b Shami 28 They now take the momentum into the second Test in Perth starting Friday, with Melbourne and Sydney to fol- N. Lyon not out 38 victory with four wickets down, but lost their last two spe- Bumrah getting the big breakthrough as he pushed at a low. “The odds were stacked against them. They fought cialist batsmen before lunch, shifting the odds heavily in perfectly angled delivery, getting a faint edge to Pant J. Hazlewood c Rahul b Ashwin 13 really well but we executed our plans well and got that last India’s favour. behind the stumps. Extras (lb6, b1, nb3) 10 wicket which we were intending to get,” said Kohli. Marsh and Head had started cautiously, grinding out 11 By lunch Australia had fought to 186 for six, still need- “I’m super-proud of the bowlers, to have four bowlers Total: (10 wickets, 119.5 overs) 291 runs in the opening seven overs before seamer Ishant ing a further 137 runs for victory, with Paine not out 40 and take 20 wickets is a great achievement and something Fall of wickets: 1-28 (Finch), 2-44 (Harris), 3-60 Sharma struck with the score on 115, bowling a bouncer and Pat Cummins on five. But in the second over after they that we haven’t done in the past. “It shows us that if the that caught Head’s bat as he tried to fend it off and Ajinkya resumed Paine top-edged a pull shot from Bumrah and (Khawaja), 4-84 (Handscomb), 5-115 (Head), 6-156 batsmen step up regularly, we will be gunning for a win in Rahane took the catch at gully. Pant easily took a catch. every Test match.” (Marsh), 7-187 (Paine), 8-228 (Starc), 9-259 Paine joined Marsh and they upped the ante, capitalis- Cummins, who survived two big reviews within four ‘SHATTERING’ (Cummins), 10-291 (Hazlewood) ing on some loose balls from Shami to chip away steadily balls, with the technology both times going in his favour, Paine, who fell to a rash shot after lunch, said the defeat and close the gap. Marsh brought up a valuable 50 — his showed gritty application with Mitchell Starc in a 41-run was “shattering” but he was proud of the way the team 10th in Tests-with a boundary from a pull shot off spinner eighth wicket stand. Bowling: Sharma 19-4-48-1, Bumrah 24-8-68-3, took it to the wire. “We thought we could win, no doubt Ashwin. And when the target dropped below 100, the crowd about that. We saw how the pitch is playing and told our- Ashwin 52.5-13-92-3, Shami 20-4-65-3 (3nb), Vijay It was a much-needed knock for the left-hander, who dared to dream before Starc fell to Shami for 28. It selves we are going to dig deep, but unfortunately, myself, was on a run of six consecutive single-figure Test scores, brought Nathan Lyon to the crease and he got the pulses 4-0-11-0. Travis (Head) and Shaun couldn’t bat long as long as we although he has been in scintillating form in domestic racing with a quick 38 to set up a tense finale, before Result: India win by 31 runs. should have.” cricket. But Marsh didn’t last much longer with Jasprit Hazlewood departed to end the match. —AFP Australia resumed the final day needing another 219 for England keep faith S Africa among with Test squad for potential hosts West Indies tour for 2019 Africa LONDON: England kept faith yesterday with the squad that delivered a Test whitewash in Sri Cup of Nations Lanka, naming the same 16 players who finished that tour for the series against the West Indies. That means no place for Surrey’s Ollie Pope, who PARIS: South Africa could step in as hosts of the was initially selected for Sri Lanka but left early to 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, according to the get game time with the second-tier Lions side, president of the Confederation of African Football and a reprieve for Kent’s Joe Denly. (CAF) Ahmad Ahmad in an interview with AFP The uncapped 32-year-old was not required yesterday. during the 3-0 win but will once again travel as CAF has been studying alternative solutions for batting cover for the three Tests, ahead of Pope the staging of the June 15 to July 13 event after and his overlooked county colleague Jason Roy. Wicketkeeper Ben Foakes was a late addition in Cameroon were withdrawn as hosts due to delays Ajaz Patel with preparations and security concerns. A final Sri Lanka after an injury to Jonny Bairstow and decision on who will host next summer’s football takes his place as a first-choice pick after collect- showpiece will be announced on January 9, Ahmad tour and he’s a proven performer in New Zealand con- ing man-of-the-series honours. said. He added that for now “two or three” candi- NZ’s Ajaz Patel wins ditions,” team selector Gavin Larsen said. “There’s a The 15-man one-day squad also has a familiar dates had shown an interest in taking over from real swell of support for the test team following their look as the countdown to next summer’s World Cameroon, the Madagascan naming South Africa efforts in the UAE, so were hoping to transition that Cup continues. Left-armer David Willey returns as having filed a letter of intent. “According to my battle for spinner’s momentum into a big home summer.” and Mark Wood is included ahead of Olly Stone, information, two or three letters of intent have Somerville, who took seven wickets on debut in the who made his bow in Sri Lanka. arrived,” the CAF president told AFP in an inter- role against S Lanka third Test victory in Abu Dhabi, and Sodhi were England are due to play three Tests, five one- view yesterMonday. released to play first-class cricket. “Will Somerville was day internationals and three Twenty20 interna- “South Africa is one of the countries to have an obvious stand-out on debut in the Abu Dhabi tionals on their tour of the West Indies, which sent a letter of intention. Two or three countries decider and it’s great to know we’ve got quality spin starts next month. The T20 squad will be have made serious inquiries.” The decision to ditch WELLINGTON: New Zealand left-arm spinner Ajaz announced at a later date. Patel’s form against Pakistan in the UAE has earned him bowlers who can create competition for places,” Larsen Cameroon for 2019 has created a confusing mer- added. Test squad: Joe Root (Yorkshire, capt), Moeen ry-go-round. Cameroon will now host the 2021 the chance to impress in local conditions after selectors Ali (Worcestershire), Jimmy Anderson yesterday named him as the only slow bowler in the Uncapped batsman Will Young has also been added edition, originally given to Ivory Coast, who are to the squad as batting cover after strong performances (Lancashire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Stuart now being asked to host the tournament in 2023.