Adelaide: A dominant Australia beat India by 10 wickets in the second day-night Test to level the five-match series 1-1 on Sunday.
Needing just 19 to win after bowling out India for 175 in the second innings, Australia cruised to victory in the first session on day three of the competition to maintain their perfect pink-ball record at Adelaide Oval.
Skipper Pat Cummins led by example, claiming 5-57 to help Australia recover from their comprehensive defeat in the series opener in Perth.
India, who resumed at 128-5, saw their slim hopes of salvaging the Test evaporate when Mitchell Starc dismissed Rishabh Pant for 28 on the first day.
Nitish Kumar Reddy’s defiant 42 saved India from an innings defeat but the miracle they needed to save the Test did not materialise, as Cummins used the bouncer to great effect as he ran through the visitors’ lower order.
Australia needed just 20 balls to secure victory and move to a perfect 8-0 record in day-night Tests at the stadium.
Usman Khawaja scored the winning run, watched on by opening partner Nathan McSweeney, in the shortest Test between the two sides.
“It’s been a great week. We were far from the type of team we want to be in Perth, but this is back to the way we want to play,” Cummins said.
“I wasn’t too upset with the way I played in Perth. The pace was very good this week, and it’s good to get a few wickets.”
Travis Head was named man of the match for his 140 in the first innings, tipping the match in Australia’s favour.
India, despite welcoming back skipper Rohit Sharma and number three Shubman Gill, continued to score 81 all out in the entire match.
“A disappointing week for us,” said Rohit, who missed the opening Test to care for his newborn son in Mumbai.
“We didn’t play well enough to win the match. Australia played better than us.
He added: “There were times when we could have taken advantage of the opportunity, but we failed, which cost us the match.”
During the match, Rohit managed three fours and a six in his new position in the middle order after vacating the opening slot to KL Rahul.
The third Test begins in Brisbane on December 14.