Australia wrap up short chase to beat India by nine wickets

INDORE, India : Travis Head smashed a breezy 49 not out as Australia reached their small target to beat India by nine wickets well inside three days of the third test in Indore on Friday.

Australia, who now trail 2-1 in the four-test series, also confirmed their place in the final of the World Test Championship in June in the process.

The tourists, outplayed in Nagpur and Delhi, began day three needing just 76 runs to register their first win in the series but had to do so on a pitch where 30 wickets had tumbled in the first two days.

They got off to a woeful start, losing Usman Khawaja before even making a dent in their target.

Ravichandran Ashwin removed the opener caught behind for a duck with the second ball of the day and Khawaja burned a review trying to overturn that decision.

Head saw no point in retreating into a shell and counter-attacked to lift the pressure, hitting Ashwin for a six, and suddenly boundaries started flowing.

Marnus Labuschagne, who made 28 not out, sealed the victory with a boundary as Australia romped home in 18.5 overs.

The final test is scheduled to begin in Ahmedabad next Thursday.