BGT: Australia thrash India in final-session thriller at MCG

With this 184-run victory Australia now has a 2-1 lead in the Border Gavaskar Trophy

- TRIDIB BAPARNASH

What appeared to have been an epic end to the Boxing Day Test that drew an unprecedented aggregate crowd, turned out a meek surrender from the Indian team as a disciplined Australia came all guns blazing with seven wickets in the final session to claim a 184-run victory, and a 2-1 lead in the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

The loss technically left the visitors at the mercy of other teams in the race to the ICC World Test Championship final in June. However, despite trailing in the five-match series, Rohit Sharma's men still have a chance to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a win in Sydney. For Australia, a win in the final Test and a 3-1 margin would secure their spot in the WTC final alongside South Africa who qualified yesterday with their own gripping victory over Pakistan.

After India had slid to 33 for 3, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant added 88 in 32 overs to raise hopes by taking India into the final session with seven wickets in hand, but Travis Head burgled a breakthrough and Australia seized their moment as India lost 7 for 34.