Australia thrashes India by 8 wkts on the 3rd day of 1st Test

Adelaide: Australia thrashed India by eight wickets on the third day of the day-night Test, to take 1-0 lead in the 4-match Test series, here at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

Chasing a paltry target of 90 runs to win, Australia scored 93 for 2 in 21 overs in their second innings, overhauling the target quite easily.

Earlier, India were restricted to 36 for 9, their lowest total in Test cricket ever, during the opening session. India's earliest lowest score was 42 at the Lord's in 1974 against England, known in Indian cricket parlance as ''Summer of 42''.Indian bowlers had done well to bowl out the hosts for 191 in the first innings, and to give their side a solid 62-run lead at the end of play on Friday. 

But, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood blew away the Indian batting order in one of the visitors' worst-ever batting show. Cummins finished with 4/21 while Hazlewood had 5/8.

Mohammed Shami was struck on the arm by a scorching bouncer from Cummins and he had to retire out as India walked back, setting a target of 90 runs for the hosts to chase.The hosts only lost Matthew Wade (33) and Marnus Labuschagne (6) during their easy chase. Opener Joe Burns (51) got a confidence-boosting fifty.

The two teams will meet again in the Boxing Day Test which begins December 26th and will be played in Melbourne.

Brief Scores: India: 244 all out & 36 for 9 in 21.2 overs (Mayank Agarwal 9; Pat Cummins 4/21; Josh Hazlewood 5/8).(UNI)