IND vs AUS 2nd Test: Australia defeat India to win 1st Test in 9 months

IND vs AUS 2nd Test: This was Australia's first Test win since the ball-tampering scandal broke out in South Africa earlier this year.

Ending their poor streak, the Aussies have finally won a Test match since the ball-tampering scandal broke out in South Africa earlier this year. On Tuesday, Australia defeated India by 146 runs in the second Test at Perth, levelling the four-match series 1-1. It’s also their Test first victory under skipper Tim Paine and head coach Justin Langer. 

Hanuma Vihari (28) and Rishabh Pant (30) had continued their overnight partnership and batted out only six overs before the first wicket fell on this day. Overall, they added 21 runs for the sixth wicket.

In the 47^th over, Starc bowled a short of a length on leg stump which took an inside edge and went up in the air after hitting his thigh pads. Harris at midwicket took an easy catch to take Australia another step closer to victory. Vihari ended up scoring 28.

Pant then tried to play a few more attacking strokes, but he didn't comprehend the situation well and was confused whether to farm the strike at all. In doing so, he attacked Lyon and holed out to mid-on, with Peter Handscomb taking a low diving catch.

'YOU BEAUTY!' A blinder from Peter Handscomb this morning!#AUSvIND | @bet365_aus pic.twitter.com/EAtOTAAyrR

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 18, 2018

It hastened the end for India, with Umesh Yadav (2) returning a simple catch to Starc.

Ishant Sharma (0) was caught behind off Cummins, and Jasprit Bumrah (0) hit a skier for another return catch to the pacer as Australia sealed their first Test win since Durban before the ball-tampering scandal hit the headlines.

That winning feeling!

Australia celebrate their first Test victory in more than nine months!#AUSvIND | @Toyota_Aus pic.twitter.com/FVTNoypHL3

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 18, 2018

Australia had scored 326 runs in their first innings, and India replied with 283 runs, thanks to Virat Kohli's 25th Test hundred, thus conceding a lead of 43 runs. The hosts scored 243 runs in their second innings to post a 287-run target.

1-1 going into the Boxing Day Test. It doesn't get much bigger!

Be there: https://t.co/bRUCcSykGl #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/2hy6jDRgHy

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 18, 2018

Starc (3-46) and Lyon (3-39) finished with three wickets apiece, while Josh Hazlewood (2-24) and Pat Cummins (2-25) took a brace each.

While Starc and his pace colleagues were expected to thrive on the lively track, it was off-spinner Lyon's exceptional outing that gave Australia the edge. He finished the match with eight wickets, including a five-for in the first innings and a deserving Man-of-the-Match award.

The GOAT @NathLyon421 is the Player of the Match after eight wickets for the Test in Perth! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/tA5xGjqGAy

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 18, 2018

Captain Virat Kohli's 25th Test ton in the first innings went in vain as his lower-order batsmen refused to wag one more time. With a very useful average of 21.00, Australia's number 8 to 11 have so far contributed 252 runs while facing 519 balls in the series, but their Indian counterparts have managed only 63 runs from 228 deliveries (average 5.25).