Australia crush India, go 3-0 up

Perth, Jan 15 (IBNS) India crashed to their third successive embarrassing loss in Australia as they went down by an innings and 37 runs in the third Test that ended before tea on the third day at the WACA Ground here Sunday.

India, who were trailing by 208 runs, were bowled out for 171 runs in the second innings for their seven successive away Test loss. India were bowled out for 161 runs in the first innings.

With still a Test left, Australia lead 3-0 and regained the Border Gavaskar Trophy. The stars for Australia were David Warner, whose whirlwind 180 took them to a competitive 369 despite a batting collapse, while pacer Ben Hilfenhaus finished with a match haul of eight for 97. Peter Siddle also finished with match figures of six for 85.

Warner was also adjudged as the Man of the Match for scoring the equal-fourth fastest Test century on day one. Warner´s knock placed him behind Viv Richards (56), Adam Gilchrist (57) and Jack Gregory (67), while equal with Shivnarine Chanderpaul in quickest centuries.

Going into the third day, Australia were on the verge of a win as India were struggling at 88 for four. Virat Kohli (75) and Rahul Dravid (47) offered some resistance but Ryan Harris went through the defence of Dravid to end India´s last fightback.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni´s (2) poor form with the bat continued as he was fishing outside the off-stump and edged to Ricky Ponting at slips off Siddle as the tourists went took lunch at 165 for six.

The Indian tail was finally exposed and an explosive three-wicket over from Hilfenhaus helped Australia trample India within one and half session on the third day.

Shortly after lunch and in perhaps the over of the series, Hilfenhaus was on a hat-trick after snaring Vinay Kumar and Zaheer Khan - both caught by Michael Clarke at first slip - with his first two balls.

After two dot deliveries he dismissed Ishant Sharma for a duck when the batsman sent a defensive push to Ed Cowan at short leg

Siddle then picked up the last wicket of Kohli to finish a sweet victory for Australia.

Brief Scores: India 171 (V. Kohli 75; B. Hilfenhaus 4-54)
India first innings 161 (B. Hilfenhaus 4-43, P. Siddle 3-42)
Australia first innings: 369 (D. Warner 180, E. Cowan 74)