BRISBANE, Australia (AFP) – India pulled off a record run-chase in a thrilling final session to hand Australia their first defeat at Brisbane’s Gabba ground since 1988 and clinch the four-Test series 2-1 on Tuesday.
Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant starred with a swashbuckling 89 not out as the injury-depleted visitors overhauled the 328-run target with three overs to go, winning by three wickets.
Australia had not been beaten at the Gabba since falling to Viv Richards’ all-conquering West Indies side by nine wickets in November 1988.
India’s 329 for seven also smashed the 69-year-old record for the biggest run-chase at the Gabba, set by Australia who scored 236 for seven to beat the West Indies in 1951.
The series win was a remarkable achievement considering India were bowled out for their lowest Test score of 36 to lose the first Test in Adelaide, before bouncing back to win the second in Melbourne.
They then batted throughout the final day to draw the third Test in Sydney.
Pat Cummins was easily the pick of the Australian bowlers with 4-55 from 24 overs.
Scoreboard at the end of the fourth Test between Australia and India at the Gabba on Tuesday:
Australia 1st innings 369 (M. Labuschagne 108, T. Paine 50; T. Natarajan 3-78, W. Sundar 3-89)
India 1st innings 336 (S. Thakur 67, W. Sundar 62; J. Hazlewood 5-57)
Australia 2nd innings 294 (S. Smith 55; M. Siraj 5-73. S. Thakur 4-61)
India 2nd innings
R. Sharma c Paine b Cummins 7
S. Gill c Smith b Lyon 91
C. Pujara lbw Cummins 56
A. Rahane c Paine b Cummins 24
R. Pant not out 89
M. Agarwal c Wade b Cummins 9
W. Sundar b Lyon 22
S. Thakur c Lyon b Hazlewood 2
N. Saini not out 0
Extras (b18, lb8, nb3) 29
Total (7 wickets, 97 overs) 329
Fall of wickets: 1-18 (Sharma), 2-132 (Gill), 3-167 (Rahane), 4-228 (Pujara), 5-265 (Agarwal), 6-318 (Sundar), 7-325 (Thakur)
Did not bat: M. Siraj, T. Natarajan
Bowling: Starc 16-0-75-0 (1nb), Hazlewood 22-5-74-1 (1nb), Cummins 24-10-55-4 (1nb), Green 3-1-10-0, Lyon 31-7-85-2, Labuschagne 1-0-4-0
Toss: Australia
Result: India win by three wickets
Umpires: Bruce Oxenford (AUS), Paul Wilson (AUS)
