O’Keefe’s match figures of 12-70 are the second-best by a visiting bowler in India in Test history

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Another six-wicket haul by spinner Steve O’Keefe coupled with captain Steve Smith’s knock of 109 led to Australia registering a historic 333-run win over India on the third day of the first Test in Pune.

Australia’s win at the MCA Stadium marked the first time India have lost a Test match on home soil since 2012. Prior to this match, India were on a record-breaking 20-match unbeaten streak.

The Baggy Greens also snapped their seven-Test losing streak against India as their last victory in the country came in Nagpur all the way back in 2004.

Furthermore, India’s 333-run loss was their second-largest in a Test match at home and their fourth-biggest in history.

Starting off the day on 143/4, Australia lost Mitchell Marsh early on for 31 before wicketkeeper Matthew Wade was caught behind off the bowling of Umesh Yadav for 20 not long after.

Smith went on to make 109 off 202 balls, which included 11 boundaries, before his resistance was brought to an end when he was trapped lbw off the bowling of Ravindra Jadeja.

Smith celebrates after scoring his 18th Test century

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Smith has now scored a century in his last five Tests against India and also became only the eighth Australian skipper to score a hundred in India.

Mitchell Starc chipped in with a quickfire 30 before Australia lost wickets in quick succession and were bowled out for 285, which set India a target of 441 to win.

Ravichandran Ashwin was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Jadeja took three, Umesh Yadav got two and Jayant Yadav chipped in with one.

Chasing 441 to win, India lost both their openers – Murali Vijay and Lokesh Rahul – within the first six overs. To make matters worse, they both reviewed their lbw decisions, but failed to get the original decision overturned.

With no reviews in hand, India began to rebuild their innings, with captain Virat Kohli and batsman Cheteshwar Pujara leading the way.

After being dismissed for a duck in the first innings, Kohli was looking to have more of an impact in the second innings, but it wasn’t to be as he was clean bowled by O’Keefe after leaving a straight delivery.

Kohli’s dismissal really put the pressure on India and the hosts weren’t able to step up as  they imploded, going from 77/3 to being bundled out for 107. Pujara ended up being the top-scorer with 31 runs.

With India being bowled out for 105 in the first innings, they only scored a total of 212 runs in the match, which is their lowest in a home Test after losing all 20 wickets. The previous record was 272 runs against Australia in Kolkata in November 1956.

O’Keefe starred with the ball again as he finished with six wickets, while fellow spinner Nathan Lyon, who ripped through India’s lower order, claimed four.

Kohli was gutted to have lost, and said: “It’s been a good run. Good to see the support. We got outplayed in this game. We got to take it on the chin, accept that they outplayed us. It was our worst batting display in the last two years. We need to see what we did wrong. They exploited it better than us. They put us under pressure throughout and deserved to win this game. We’ve had two really bad sessions and to pull it back against a quality side is very difficult. No excuses. Sometimes, you have to take your hat off and tell the opposition well done.”

Smith was over the moon to have taken a 1-0 lead in the series, and said: “Thought it was going to be hard work. I’m proud of the way the guys played. Winning the toss was a bonus, good plans in place. O’Keefe was outstanding. We’ve got some good players of spin and good spinners.

“It’s been 4,502 days since Australia won a Test in India, I know it to the day. A massive lead in this wicket. When he pulled his length back slightly (O’Keefe), it felt he’d get a wicket every ball. You need to have some luck on a wicket like that. It took a lot of grit and determination.”

O’Keefe was named Man of the Match, and said: “[The] first innings was a bit of blur. The ball tended to skid on more than spin so it exposed the stumps and the lbw. My first six wickets was ordinary, I had to change it up quickly. Our batters worked really hard not to get beaten.”