India crush Australia by 8 wickets to take 1-0 lead

NEW DELHI: India chased down the 50-run target with two wickets down to win the first Test against Australia by 8 wickets on the fifth day at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday. With this win, India took a 1-0 lead in the four-Test match series. Nathan Lyon gave Australia the second breakthrough when he had Virender Sehwag caught by Michael Clarke at first slip. Sehwag leaned forward for a defensive shot but the ball went straight on after landing and Sehwag got an outside edge to first slip where Clarke pouched a good low catch. The Aussies were suddenly all charge up at the dismissal of Sehwag but Sachin Tendulkar hit two consecutive sixes off Lyon to settle all the nerves and alongwith Cheteshwar Pujara took India to victory. James Pattinson denied India a ten-wicket victory as he had Murali Vijay caught by Moises Henriques at mid-off. Australia's second innings ended at 241 runs when Ravindra Jadeja had Nathan Lyon caught by Murali Vijay at forward short leg. The final day's play started with Moises Henriques and Lyon resuming Australia's second innings with a lead of 40 runs. It was a great effort from the Indian spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh and Ravindra Jadeja on Day 4 as they dismissed nine Australian batsmen and dominated throughout. The Indian spinners claimed all the nine scalps with Ashwin starring with 5 wickets and he was ably supported by Jadeja and Harbhajan. Showing some terrific fighting spirit, Henriques was the star for the Australians as he managed to drag their innings and take the match to Day 5. Henriques' resolute batting on Day 4 made sure that Australia avoided an innings defeat. Captain Michael Clarke had put Australia on top with a brilliant hundred in the first innings but the momentum shifted in India's favour on Day 3 thanks to skipper MS Dhoni's masterclass after a classy knock by Sachin Tendulkar (81) and a superb century by Virat Kohli. Ashwin made sure that Day 4 too was dominated by the hosts as he ripped through Australia's batting order with splendid spell of spin bowling. TOI