Mitchell Johnson shines with bat and ball as Australia beat India in second test
Paceman hits 88 runs and claims four wickets as Australia secure second test to lead series 2-0
Mitchell Johnson's brilliance with bat and ball inspired Australia to a four-wicket second test victory over India and an unassailable 2-0 series lead at the Gabba in Brisbane on Saturday.
Mitch Marsh hit the winning runs as Australia survived a few wobbles to chase down their target of 128 after tea on the fourth day of the contest but two interventions from Johnson set up the victory.
On Friday, Australia were 247 for six chasing India's first innings 408 when Johnson came out and smashed 88 runs from 93 balls in a Gabba record seventh-wicket stand of 148 with skipper Steve Smith that turned the match on its head.
Mitch certainly turned it on for us in that little spell this morning, that really cracked the game open for us
Yesterday, India had resumed their second innings on 71 for one looking to quickly make up the 26-run deficit on Australia's total of 505 and build another imposing score.
Half an hour later, their hopes were shattered as Johnson (four for 61), ably assisted by debutant paceman Josh Hazlewood (two for 74), ripped through the batting to leave India pondering yet another collapse at 87 for five.
In one dizzying 11-ball spell, Johnson took three for 10 by removing Virat Kohli (one), Ajinkya Rahane (10) and Rohit Sharma (0). Hazlewood, who took five for 68 in the first innings, removed India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni for a duck in the next over.
"Mitch certainly turned it on for us in that little spell this morning, that really cracked the game open for us," said Smith after tasting victory in his first match as captain in place of the injured Michael Clarke.
"All the bowlers, to be fair, produced the goods for us. I thought Joshy Hazlewood was outstanding and Nathan Lyon came on and did a job."
India were still in the contest at the start of play yesterday and Dhoni blamed the confusion on Shikhar Dhawan declaring himself unfit to resume his innings for creating "unrest" in the dressing room.
Smith was "extremely satisfied" with the victory to take a 2-0 lead into the final two matches in Melbourne and Sydney, especially after day one when Australia were under the cosh with bowlers "dropping like flies".
Taking the man of the match award for his 133 in the first innings, Smith was happy to pay credit to Johnson for his role.
"I think it was a big turning point in the game to get that partnership there with Mitch. To get 500 runs in the first innings was just crucial for us," he said.
"It was just amazing the way Mitch came out and took on the bowlers from ball one."
