Johnson blasts Aussies to ‘Gabba win

Australia forged ahead to a two-nil lead in the Test series against India, winning the second match in Brisbane by four wickets on Saturday, leaving the sides with an extra day to prepare for the third Test.
India were abject with the bat on day four, slumping from 71 for one at the start of play to 224 all out. This left the Aussies needing just 128 to win, and while they made it look tougher than it needed to be, the got there late in the day.
India began the day with Cheteshwar Pujara in the middle overnight, and India proceeded to lose four wickets in the space of 16 runs. Virat Kohli was removed for one, followed by Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma for cheap figures.
Those three were all sent packing by Mitchell Johnson in a burst reminiscent of the Ashes earlier this year. He ended up taking four wickets, adding Umesh Yadav to his tally after the paceman made 30 in a last-gasp resistance.
So with India all out before tea, this left the Aussies with a meagre target to chase. If the Indians had scored 50 more runs, as it turned out, things would have been very exciting as the home batsmen also tumbled.
David Warner and Shane Watson were both out for single figures, leaving Chris Rogers, under fire before this game due to a lack of runs, to keep things on track. His 55 was the backbone of the knock, and vital to the quick chase.
Once Rogers fell, one of three Ishant Sharma top-order wickets, it was left to skipper Steve Smith and batsman Shaun Marsh to wrap things up. Smith made 28 before being run out with six runs to go, while Marsh was out for 17.
In the end it was the Mitchells Marsh and Johnson who wrapped up the game, scoring the winning runs with an hour left in the day. Smith was named man of the match for his vital century in the first innings.
Latest
-
News
George Scrimshaw holds final-over nerves to guide Derbyshire past Lancashire
Scrimshaw successfully defended the 10 runs in the final over.
-
England
Jonny Bairstow and England looking to ‘take the game forward’
Bairstow hit a run-a-ball hundred for the second Test in succession as England fought back spectacularly against New Zealand.
-
England
Jonny Bairstow century leads thrilling England fightback at Headingley
The Yorkshireman made 130 not out and put on 209 with debutant Jamie Overton to rescue his side from 55 for six against New Zealand.
-
England
England top order left in tatters as New Zealand gain upper hand at Headingley
The hosts were 93 for six in reply to New Zealand’s 329 all out.
-
New Zealand
Daryl Mitchell breaks record with another century against England
Mitchell broke Martin Donnelly’s New Zealand tally of 492 runs in a series in England, set back in 1949.
-
England
Superb James Vince ton leads Hampshire to shock win over Somerset
Sussex’s five-match losing streak came to an end with a 17-run win over Surrey.
-
England
Adil Rashid to miss England’s India white-ball series to make Mecca pilgrimage
Rashid has found it difficult to make the pilgrimage due to timings and commitments.
-
England
Jack Leach pleased with good luck but admits freak dismissal no collector’s item
New Zealand closed the opening day of the final Test against England on 225 for five after Henry Nicholls was dismissed in bizarre fashion.
-
England
Stuart Broad stars on day one for England but error of judgement proves costly
Broad kept a week of celebrations going strong by striking before a run had been added and followed with the key scalp of Kane Williamson.
-
England
Matthew Mott expects England whitewash to ‘light fire’ under captain Eoin Morgan
Mott made an ideal start in his new role with a 3-0 one-day clean sweep of the Netherlands.