[Watch] Harshit Rana cleans up Alex Carey as India beat Australia by 295 runs in BGT 2024-25 1st Test
Debutant pacer Harshit Rana was at the centre of action for Team India as he took the wicket of Alex Carey on Day 4 of the first Test against Australia in the Border Gavaskar Trophy at the Optus Stadium, Perth. Team India registered their largest victory in terms of runs against Australia, beating them by 295 runs.
Chasing 534 for a win in the first Test, Australia were off to a shambolic start as they lost the wicket of Nathan McSweeney in the very first over of the chase. India would then strike back in quick succession as night watchman Pat Cummins and Marnus Labuschagne (3 off 5) would then be dismissed in quick succession, with the visitors ending Day 3 of this Test on a high.
Mohammed Siraj opened the floodgates on Day 4 as he dismissed the overnight batter Usman Khawaja for four runs. Steve Smith (17 off 60) and Travis Head (89 off 101) stitched together a 62-run partnership before Siraj prised the wicket of Smith. Head was the sixth wicket to fall, but Mitchell Marsh (47 off 67) kept going in the middle before he became Nitish Kumar Reddy's first scalp in Test cricket.
Wickets kept falling at regular intervals, and India were inching closer and closer to winning this Test. On the fourth ball of the 59th over, Harshit Rana decided to take pace off the ball, which ended up foxing Alex Carey (36 off 58). That ball knocked over the Australian keeper-batter's off stump, helping India clinch the final wicket and beat Australia by 295 runs.
Take a look at the winning moment below:
With this win, India registered their largest margin of win against Australia in Australia, beating them by 295 runs. This win also means that India become the first side to beat Australia in a Test match at the Optus Stadium, Perth.
Jasprit Bumrah win the Player of the Match in the BGT 2024-25 1st Test
Team India stand-in skipper and pacer Jasprit Bumrah was at the centre of action. After picking up a fifer (5/30) in the first innings, Bumrah picked up the wickets of Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head, ending with match figures reading 8/72, which won him the Player of the Match trophy.
Team India lead the five-match Border Gavaskar Trophy series 1-0. The second Test will be played at the Adelaide Oval from December 6-10.