India win Australia series 2-1 after fourth Test ends in draw

Tuesday, 14 March 2023 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

India’s players pose with the trophy after winning the series at the end of the fourth and final Test cricket match between India and Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 13 March 2023 - AFP

AHMEDABAD, AFP: India clinched the four-match series against Australia 2-1 after the final Test ended in a draw on Monday in Ahmedabad following defiant half-centuries from Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne.

Even before the players shook hands, India knew they had qualified for the World Test Championship final after New Zealand edged out Sri Lanka by two wickets in the opening Test in Christchurch.

India, who make their second successive WTC final after losing the inaugural edition to New Zealand in 2021, will meet Australia in the title clash on June 7-11 at The Oval.

Australia reached 175-2 in their second innings in the final session of play on day five at the world’s biggest cricket stadium when the players of both teams called it a day.

The left-handed Head (90) and Labuschagne (63 not out) snuffed out India’s push for a victory on the final day with a stand of 139 after nightwatchman Matthew Kuhnemann fell early for six.

Head, capping a successful series after being left out of the first Test, missed out on his century after being bowled by Axar Patel.

Regular opener Usman Khawaja did not to bat due to “lower leg soreness” after getting hurt while fielding on day four.

The match belonged to India’s Virat Kohli, who hit a masterful 186 on day four to end a Test century drought of 1,205 days since his previous ton in November 2019.

The marathon 364-ball knock blocked every chance of a potential defeat for the hosts after Australia posted 480 on a vastly different pitch from the previous three Tests.

Kohli, one of the best players of his generation, recorded his 28th Test century to power India to 571 all out on Sunday as India managed a lead of 91 after their first innings.

Kohli’s partnership of 162 for the sixth wicket with Axar, who hit his third half-century of the series with an attacking 79, marked India’s dominance on Sunday.

Opener Shubman Gill hit 128 to lead India’s reply and make the most of his opportunity after being added to the team in place of struggling K.L. Rahul in the third Test. Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin stood out with his six wickets in Australia’s first innings in the run-filled match.

Opener Khawaja with a stubborn 180 and Cameron Green, who hit his maiden international century with 114, had handed Australia the early advantage.

Australia bounced back from their two opening losses to win the third match in Indore in just over two days on a viciously turning track to keep the series alive until the final match.

Steve Smith led Australia in the final two Tests after regular Captain Pat Cummins returned home to be with his seriously ill mother. She died last week.