Sydney, January 5 Australia has no victories in the domestic Border-Gavaskar Trophy after 2014–15. However, the hosts defeated India by six wickets to win the fifth Test and secure a 3-1 series on Sunday at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the blazing weather.

Resuming at 141/6 in the morning, India was only able to increase their overnight total by 16 runs before their second innings concluded in the first forty-five minutes of the third day. Scott Boland and Pat Cummins both took two wickets in a precise bowling display to swiftly terminate India’s innings and position themselves for a chase of 162, as the ground offered seamers adequate movement and assistance.

Boland’s 6-45 in 16.5 overs is also his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket since his historic 6/7 on debut against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the 2021 Ashes, when the seamer claimed 10 wickets in a match as the pink-clad Sydney crowd enthusiastically applauded.

Usman Khawaja (41), Beau Webster (39 not out), and Travis Head (34 not out) were the main contributors as Australia completed the chase in 27 overs without Jasprit Bumrah bowling because of a back spasm.

Even though Prasidh Krishna claimed three wickets, India’s terrible bowling performance was insufficient, and Cummins & Co. eventually won the trophy they had been longing for—especially after losing by 295 runs in the first game in Perth.

Australia, the victors of the 2023 World Test Championship, will play South Africa at Lord’s in June in the crucial final thanks to the victory.

India has a lot of thinking to do in all facets of the game, as well as in leadership responsibilities and tactical preparation, since they lost ownership of the trophy after ten years.

India’s advantage surpassed 150 as Ravindra Jadeja seemed to have found his aggressive spark in the morning, clipping a short, wide ball from Cummins for four. Cummins, however, fell for 13 from 45 balls when he got a fuller ball to slant in, seam away, and take the thin outside edge of Jadeja’s bat to Alex Carey two balls later.

Washington Sundar was bowled out for 12 off 43 balls by Cummins, who got one to angle in from outside of the pitch and seam in in his subsequent over. India’s innings ended a ball before 40 overs when Boland scored his six-fer by having Siraj edge to first slip and rattling Bumrah’s leg-stump.

In addition to Sam Konstas scoring three fast boundaries, India’s defense of 162 got off to a bad start as Prasidh and Mohammed Siraj were all over the place in their lines and lengths, giving up 35 runs in the first three overs, including eight wides and four leg-byes.

However, Prasidh eventually got his lengths correct and got rid of Konstas, who attempted a powerful slog but was holed out to mid-off for 22. Marnus Labuschagne was sent to gully for six by Prasidh shortly after Australia reached their fifty.

Steve Smith was only one run away from becoming a member of the 10,000 Test Runs Club after crawling to 9,999 Test Runs. However, Prasidh had other plans. He delivered a length ball that took the outside edge of Smith’s bat, bounced sharply, and was caught by a forward-diving gully.

To make sure Australia didn’t lose another wicket in the opening session, Khawaja and Head stayed till lunchtime. After lunch, India gave up 33 runs in the first five overs, and Khawaja hit five fast boundaries off Prasidh and Siraj.

Khawaja was on the verge of reaching his second fifty of the series when he fell for 41 from 45 balls after bottom-edged a pull shot behind to Rishabh Pant off Siraj, handing the bowler his 100th Test wicket.

Head cut Nitish Kumar Reddy for his third boundary and flicked Siraj for four more as Webster, who had just scored a brilliant 57 in the first innings, shone with his backfoot punch and leaning drives.

When Webster drew Siraj for four, cut Nitish beautifully through gully, then hit Washington Sundar for two fours with a square drive, his confident backfoot technique was even more evident.

In addition to collecting a wicket and making two excellent catches, Webster finished his Test debut with scores of 57 and 39 not out. He then appropriately lofted Washington over mid-off for the winning four to bring Australia home and win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in ten years.

Australia defeated India by six wickets with 181 and 162/4 in 27 overs (Usman Khawaja 41, Beau Webster 39 not out; Prasidh Krishna 3-65, Mohammed Siraj 1-69) after India scored 185 and 157 in 39.5 overs (Rishabh Pant 61; Scott Boland 6-45).