India pounded by innings defeat in Perth, Oz wins series

Perth, Jan 15 (ANI): The humiliation continued for India as Australia thrashed the visiting side by an innings and 37 runs on the third day of the match at the WACA ground in Perth on Sunday.

The strong Indian batting line up collapsed in front of a superb bowling performance by Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle.

Peter Siddle, who claimed three crucial wickets, hammered the final nail in the coffin after he dismissed the lone fighter of the second innings Virat Kohli, who played a fighting knock of 75 runs.

India's second innings ended at 171 in 63.2 overs. Kohli's 75 came off in 136 balls with the help of nine fours.

Australian paceman Ben Hilfenhaus dismissed Vinay Kumar, Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma in the third over after lunch to trigger the collapse of the Indian tail.

At lunch on day three in Perth, India were tottering at 165-6 in their second innings, still 43 away from Australia's first-innings total of 369. Virat Kohli was unbeaten on 69, with debutant Vinay Kumar on six.

India lost Rahul Dravid and skipper MS Dhoni in the first session on the third day.

Dhoni, who came in after Dravid, lasted for just 20 minutes before edging a Peter Siddle delivery to Ricky Ponting in the slips, who took a fine low catch. India lost their sixth wicket at the score of 148.

Paceman Ryan Harris clean bowled Rahul Dravid to give Australia a crucial breakthrough against India on the third day of the third Test.

Dravid was once again undone by a full-length delivery that swung back after pitching. The 39-year-old tried to nudge it away towards midwicket but missed it entirely as it went through the gate to hit the timber.

Dravid, who started off well on Day 3, played a fighting knock of 47 runs that came off 114 balls with the help of eight fours.

Earlier in the day, Virat Kohli, who scored his third Test fifty, hit a fighting half-century to put up fine resistance against a quality Australian attack. Kohli scored 50 off 92 balls with the help of six boundaries.

Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli, who resumed Indian second innings on Day 3, added a crucial 84 runs for the fifth wicket.

Needing 208 runs to make Australia bat again in this match, India were reduced to 51/4 before Dravid and Kohli held firm to help the visitors finish Day 2 on 88/4.

Earlier on the second day yesterday, hosts Australia were all out for 369 in their first innings, in reply to India's first innings score of 161.

Australia clinched the four-match Test series 3-0 with the final Test to be played at Adelaide from January 24.

Brief Scores:

India: 161 and 171 all out in 63.2 overs (Virat Kohli batting 75, Rahul Dravid 47; Ben Hilfenhaus 4/54, Peter Siddle 3/43).

Australia 1st innings: 369.

Australia won the first test in Melbourne by 122 runs and the second in Sydney by an innings and 68 runs. The fourth test begins in Adelaide next week. (ANI)