(Reuters) - Mitchell Johnsons brilliance with both bat and ball inspired Australia to a four-wicket second test victory over India and an unassailable 2-0 series lead at the Gabba in Brisbane on Saturday.Mitch Marsh hit the winning runs as Australia survived a few wobbles to chase down their target of 128 after tea on the fourth day of the contest but there was little doubt that two interventions from Johnson set up the victory.On Friday, Australia were 247-6 chasing Indias first innings 408 when Johnson came out and smashed 88 runs from 93 balls in a Gabba record seventh-wicket stand of 148 with skipper Steve Smith that turned the match on its head.On Saturday, India had resumed their second innings on 71-1 looking to quickly make up the 26-run deficit on Australias total of 505 and build another imposing score.Half an hour later, their hopes were shattered as Johnson (4-61), ably assisted by debutant paceman Josh Hazlewood (2-74), ripped through the batting to leave India pondering yet another collapse at 87 for five.In one dizzying 11-ball spell, Johnson took three for 10 by removing Virat Kohli (1), Ajinkya Rahane (10) and Rohit Sharma (0). Hazlewood, who took 5-68 in the first innings, removed India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni for a duck in the next over.Mitch certainly turned it on for us in that little spell this morning, that really cracked the game open for us, said Smith after tasting victory in his first match as captain in place of the injured Michael Clarke.All the bowlers, to be fair, produced the goods for us. I thought Joshy Hazlewood was outstanding and Nathan Lyon came on and did a job here and there.It was another disappointing day on the road for the tourists, who had dominated the first day on the back of Murali Vijays 144 as Australias bowlers wilted in the sweltering heat.They were still in the contest at the start of play on Saturday and Dhoni blamed the confusion after Shikhar Dhawan declaring himself unfit to resume his innings for creating unrest in the dressing room.It is disappointing but what is more important is to reason out why it happened, he told reporters.The first session today was crucial and we didnt handle it very well. If we had been able to got a decent partnership together and pushed it into a fifth day, then we could have exploited the conditions more.Dhawan, who injured his right wrist in the nets, was later forced to cancel his trip to the hospital for scans and resume his innings, providing some resistance in an innings of 81 before India were dismissed for 224.Australias run chase was far from perfectly handled either and question marks will be raised over the batting of Shane Watson, Shaun Marsh and Brad Haddin who were among the six wickets to fall.
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 10:24:01 +0000
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