Australia win by 298 runs to sweep series

Adelaide: Australia registered an emphatic 298–run on the fifth day of the final Test match against India at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday to complete a 4-0 clean sweep.

Chasing a mammoth target of 500 to win, India suffered yet another batting collapse on the fourth day and were reduced to 166 for 6 at stumps. But it took the Australian bowlers less than an hour and just 14.4 overs to wrap up India's tail on the fifth morning.

Ryan Harris ensured that early inroads were made when he drew Ishant Sharma (2) into having a dab at a delivery that moved away from him in just the third over, the edge was found and Brad Haddin did the rest.

Having provided stern resistance in the first innings, Wriddhiman Saha (3) offered little this time around, pushing forward at a fullish ball from Peter Siddle and edging to Haddin.

Zaheer, unlike his previous innings in the series, seemed determined to spent time at the crease rather than flashing at every delivery. He batted for 18 balls from which he scored 15 runs with the help of three boundaries before Ben Hilfenhaus sent him packing. Zaheer lobbed a simple catch to David Warner in the covers while trying to pull a short delivery off Hilfenhaus.

Only four bowlers got a go on the final day and in a turn that has mirrored the series, with all the bowlers chipping in, it was Nathan Lyon who ended the contest when he had Umesh Yadav (1) caught behind.

Ravichandran Ashwin remained unbeaten for India on 15 which came off 31 balls. Lyon turned out to be the best bowler for Australia, finishing with impressive figures of four for 63, while Harris picked up three wickets for 41 runs.

Peter Siddle was declared Man of the Match and Michael Clarke Man of the Series.

The Australians had everything going their way throughout the series. The under-pressure seniors Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey came good, with Clarke enhancing his reputation as a captain. The bowling unit was just too good for the Indian batsmen and never let the Indians settle by picking up wickets at regular interval.

This is India's second Test series whitewash in less than a year and eighth straight loss overseas after they were beaten 4-0 by England in 2011.