Dharamsala: Host India defeated Australia by eight wickets in the fourth and final cricket Test to claim the four-match series 2-1 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium today.
With the defeat of Australia, the Men-In-Blue have thus clinched the series 2-1 to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Lokesh Rahul hit a half-century and guided the hosts to victory along with stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane after the early departure of Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara.
Rahul remained undefeated on 52 while Rahane was not out on 38.
Fittingly, it was Rahul who hit the winning runs, guiding a Steve O’Keefe delivery to the on-side.
Chasing 106 for a win, India finished at 107 for two, losing the wickets of Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara.
Opener KL Rahul (52 not out) and stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane (38 not out) remained unbeaten to take India home.
Brief Score:
Australia: 300 and 137 all out in 53.5 overs (Glenn Maxwell 45, Matthew Wade 25 not out; R Jadeja 3/24, Umesh Yadav 3/29, R Ashwin 3/29).
India: 332 and 107 for two in 23.5 overs (KL Rahul 52 not out, Ajinkya Rahane 38 not out; Pat Cummins 1/42).
