Australia beat India by 146 runs to level series

IMAGES from Day 5 of the 2nd Test played in Perth on Tuesday

IMAGE: Australia players celebrates after Pat Cummins takes the wicket of Ishant Sharma to win the Test. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

India crumbled in the face of Australia's remarkable metamorphosis and crashed to a 146-run defeat in the second Test in Perth on Tuesday, surrendering a rare hard-earned ascendancy in a series Down Under.

The hosts levelled the four-match series 1-1 after India were bowled out for 140 runs in 56 overs in their second innings on the fifth and final day. India had won the opening game by 31 runs to go in front.

Starting from overnight 112 for five, India lost their last five wickets for just 28 runs and it was all over within 65 minutes of play.

This was Australia's first Test win since the ball-tampering scandal broke out in South Africa earlier this year.

IMAGE: India's Hanuma Vihari walks back after his resistance was broken by Mitchell Starc. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Mitchell Starc (3-46) and Nathan Lyon (3-39) finished with three wickets apiece, while Josh Hazlewood (2-24) and Pat Cummins (2-25) took a brace each.

Hanuma Vihari (28) and Rishabh Pant (30) had continued their overnight partnership, and batted out only six overs before the first wicket fell on this day. Overall, they added 21 runs for the sixth wicket.

Vihari was the first to go, lobbing a catch off Starc to short point. Pant then tried to play a few more attacking strokes, but he didn't comprehend the situation well and was confused whether to farm the strike at all.

IMAGE: Australia's Nathan Lyon and Peter Handscomb celebrate after combining to take the wicket of Rishabh Pant. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

In doing so, he attacked Lyon and holed out to mid on, with Peter Handscomb taking a low diving catch.

It hastened the end for India, with Umesh Yadav (2) returning a simple catch to Starc.

Ishant Sharma (0) was caught behind off Cummins, and Jasprit Bumrah (0) hit a skier for another return catch to the pacer as Australia sealed their first Test win since Durban before the ball-tampering scandal hit the headlines.

IMAGE: Australia's Pat Cummins takes a catch off his own bowling to dismiss India's Jasprit Bumrah. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Australia had scored 326 runs in their first innings, and India replied with 283 runs, thanks to Virat Kohli's 25th Test hundred, thus conceding a lead of 43 runs. The hosts scored 243 runs in their second innings to post a 287-run target.

India had won the first Test in Adelaide by 31 runs. The third Test starts in Melbourne on December 26.

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