With the victory, India took an unassailable 1-0 lead in the series and retained the Border Gavaskar Trophy with their seventh highest run chase in history.
It was once again V V S Laxman, who made it happen. Laxman and Ishant Sharma put on 81 runs for the ninth wicket as Australians were thrashed at Mohali in a thrilling encounter. Just as Australians were breathing down Indian neck with the score at 124/8, the duo put on a stupendous partnership to keep the Aussies at bay. This is also World No.1 India’s third successive win against the Australians.
However with Ishant given a dubious leg before decision by umpire Ian Gould, it was a tense last 15 minutes for the Indian supporters at the PCA Stadium before Laxman and Pragyan Ojha (five not out) took India to the magic score of 216. The victory was sealed with two leg byes got by Pragyan Ojha off Johnson to the wild celebrations at the dressing room and the stands. Laxman faced just 79 balls for his unbeaten 73 which comprised eight fours while Ishant consumed 92 balls for his 31.
Needing 161 for a win with six wickets intact when they started batting in the morning, Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan (10) started in a positive manner before trouble began. Rather than trying to defend in the first hour, both were keen on playing their shots. While Tendulkar hit some well-timed boundaries off Nathan Hauritz, Zaheer ran a couple and a few singles to keep the scoreboard ticking. Zaheer hung around for half an hour before he was done in a by straighter one from Hauritz as he tried to play for the turn. Michael Clarke took an easy catch in the slips. In came Laxman and the manner in which he started, it never looked that he has been suffering from back spasms and was in unbearable pain for the last couple of days.
He announced his arrival with back-to-back boundaries off Hauritz. First a cover drive and then a back foot punch through extra cover. The best shot was a backfoot punch off Bollinger which was hit with minimum fuss. Laxman and Tendulkar added 43 runs in only 6.1 overs and it looked that the home side were taking control of the proceedings.
Tendulkar, played 64 balls hitting five boundaries in the process. He was the man on whom the hopes of an India victory wrested. A cover drive and a wristy on-drive bore testimony to his intentions. It looked as if Tendulkar would like to prove his critics who have often spoken about his inability to win matches for India in the fourth innings.
Just before the first drinks break of the morning session, Tendulkar tried an ambitious upper-cut of a Bollinger delivery that rose from length. He did not get the required elevation and the Mike Hussey took a smart catch at gully. Tendulkar's wicket was exactly the shot in the arm Aussies needed. Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was run-out for two when he hesitated before responding to Laxman's runner Suresh Raina's call for a single. Ben Hilfenhaus ran from mid-off to mid on and threw down the stumps at the batsman's end with Dhoni couple of yards short of his ground. Harbhajan Singh also did not last long gloving a Bollinger short ball to Ricky Ponting at second slips.
It's one of the most sensational wins for India in the recent times on the cricket field. Australia have been shown its place by India as they pulled off a miraculous win to take 1-0 lead in the series.
No comments :
Post a Comment