Steve O'Keefe has shattered records, streaks and a billion hearts in India, spinning Australia to one of their most famous and unexpected Test wins.
O'Keefe finished with stunning match-figures of 12-70 in Pune, piloting the tourists to a 333-run victory on day three of the four-Test series opener.
It is Australia's first Test win in India since 2004, with the result also snapping their nine-Test losing streak in Asia.
The 32-year-old O'Keefe's match haul is statistically the greatest performance by a visiting spinner in India, which has been hosting Tests for 84 years.
A captain's knock of 109 from Steve Smith helped Australia set India an imposing target of 441 at lunch on Saturday.
India collapsed in a tick over two hours to be all out for 107, handing Australia just their 13th Test win in India.
"We haven't won a game here for 4502 days," Smith said.
"The pressure was off us. Everyone wrote us off and expected India to win 4-0. That can't happen any more.
"Sometimes you can think negatively about the situation ... for us it was putting that out of our mind.
"We kept the foot on the throat ... we didn't let India back into the game."
O'Keefe snared six wickets in the space of 38 minutes on Friday, when the top-ranked Test side were rolled for just 105 in their first innings after a staggering collapse of 7-11.
The left-arm spinner backed it up superbly, grabbing 6-35 on Saturday including the prized scalp of Virat Kohli. Kohli shouldered arms to a straight ball that hit the middle of off stump.
"I love SOK's willingness to learn and try different things and adapt to different conditions," Smith said.
Kohli's total of 13 runs is his lowest in a home Test. India's tally of 212 runs from both innings is also the nation's lowest in a home Test.
O'Keefe, who started the rot in his first over on day three by trapping opener Murali Vijay lbw, now boasts the best match figures by an Australian in India. Paceman Alan Davidson had held that record since taking 12-124 in 1959 at Kanpur.
"Relieved. It's been a long time coming," O'Keefe said of his emotions after a career-defining game.
Smith made the most of chances on 23, 29, 37, 60 and 67 to play a pivotal role in ending India's 20-Test undefeated streak at home.
"You need a bit of luck on a wicket like that. I was pleased with myself to score a second-innings hundred here in India and formulate some different plans to how I normally play, problem solve on the spot," the skipper said.
Kohli opined his side's lack of application with the bat could have made any bowler look dangerous, vowing they would hit back hard in the second Test that starts next Saturday in Bangalore.
"Even a part-timer can take four wickets if you don't apply yourself," he quipped.
"We need to accept we batted badly and we need to improve.
"If you drop five catches off one batsman ... and you lose seven wickets for 11 runs, you don't deserve to win."
Share
