Aussies suffer 75-run loss, series level

Australia have been bowled out for 112 in their pursuit of the 188 runs required to win the second Test against India, with the four-Test series now level.

India's Ravichandran Ashwin, facing camera, celebrates

Australia have been bowled out for 112 while chasing the 188 runs required to win the second Test. (AAP)

Australia have suffered a 75-run defeat to India in Bangalore, with the four-Test series now level after an absorbing match full of what-ifs, send-offs, momentum shifts, run-ins and Decision Review System drama.

Steve Smith's side were rolled for 112 early in the final session on day four of the second Test, having been set a target of 188 after an inspired fightback with the ball from Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

Australia crumbled in a collapse of 6-11 on Tuesday, unable to survive a pitch playing plenty of tricks and a chaotic series of events.

The visitors had complete control of the contest after Nathan Lyon's record-breaking haul of 8-50 on day one but momentum shifted when Virat Kohli adopted a more pugnacious and vocal approach in the field on day two.

Kohli, who called it India's greatest win since he was appointed captain, then all but accused counterpart Smith of systematic cheating.

Tensions bubbled over throughout the game but the intensity lifted tenfold when Smith was one of six wickets to fall in Tuesday's post-lunch session.

Smith looked to the changeroom as he mulled whether to review a plumb lbw dismissal. A cantankerous captain stormed across the pitch and confronted his counterpart, late claiming that Australia repeatedly did the same in the match.

"I would never do something like that on the cricket field," he said.

"It was a quite emotional game for us, quite draining."

Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravichandran Ashwin, Smith, Steve O'Keefe, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood could all be dragged in front of Chris Broad, depending on how the match referee views a handful of flashpoints at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

It would be wrong to suggest relations between the teams are worse than the all-time low of 2007-08, when the 'monkey-gate' saga overshadowed a series in Australia.

But Australia arguably haven't been involved in such a consistently spiteful Test since the 2014 series decider in Cape Town, when Faf du Plessis likened the opposition to a "pack of dogs".

Smith was booed during the post-match ceremony, while the crowd chanted "go home Aussies".

"We weren't up to it today ... it was a great Test match, it certainly ebbed and flowed," Smith said.

"It (the pitch) was quite hard to play ... but Test match cricket isn't supposed to be easy.

"There's always plenty happening on a wicket like that. You're always going to see lots of appealing, lots of referrals.

"Emotions are always high in Australia and India clashes ... it was a great contest."

Kohli incurred the majority of the wrath of umpires Nigel Llong and Richard Illingworth. India's skipper was given a series of lectures throughout days two and four.

Illingworth judged David Warner lbw on 17. The vice-captain reviewed the verdict and replays appeared to show him being struck outside the line of off stump.

However, the computer system bizarrely delivered a verdict of 'umpire's call' and Warner was given his marching orders.

Shaun Marsh was then wrongly given out lbw by Llong but opted to walk off because he was wary of wasting the side's final review. Ball-tracking replays confirmed it would have been overturned.


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Source: AAP



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