| Scorecard: | India v Australia |
| Event: | Australia in India 2008/09 |
DateLine: 21st October 2008
India lead the series 1-0
Zaheer khan rips through the Aussie lower order
If Australia were harbouring any thoughts of a fightback,it was laid to rest by Zaheer Khan. In a brilliant spell of reverse swing bowling he ran through the lower order picking three wickets leaving Australia reeling at 144 for 8 after they started the final days play at 141 for 5 here in the second test at Mohali.It was all over in 15 minutes.Haddin and lee were cleaned up with a brilliant piece of reverse swing bowling.White chased a wide one to be caught behind.The spell just took the wind out of their sails.It was all over barring the shouting.Michael Clarke was involved in a half century partnership with Johnson ,before Mishra got both of them before lunch.Australia bowled out for 195.Harbhajan was unlucky to miss out on his 300th test wicket.He will have to wait till Delhi where the next test will be played on 29th.
A great Diwali gift
It was a great Diwali gift from the Indian team to their fans.Especially after what happened in the first test at Bangalore, where they fighting to save the test match in bad light.It has been a tremendous turn around.A total team effort from Dhoni and his boys has lead to this crushing victory.After the confusion over Anil Kumble on the eve of the test match,Dhoni took over the reins brilliantly.
Captain cool
There are lot of qualities about Dhoni to marvel about.He is extremely cool under pressure.There is a positive energy that radiates from him to every other team member.His aggressive captaincy lead to quite a few things.India went at almost four an over in both innings.He got quick runs in both the innings.His field placements were spot on and so were his bowling changes.Never did he allow the game to drift.His calmness came to the fore especially when Hayden was going hammer and tongs in the second innings.He just waited for the moment and then seized it.
A total team effort
When a captain is like that obviously team is always buzzing.And that was what one got to see in Mohali.A total team effort where almost everybody contributed.It was a test match which started on Anil's birthday and that day history was created.Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar went on to become the highest run getter on 17th October when he surpassed Lara's record of 11,953 runs.Saurav scored his 16th test hundred and completed 7000 test runs a fitting reply to his critics in his final series.Dhoni then came and blasted 92 in no time to get India to 469 in the first innings.In the second innings Viru and Gambhir got India off to a blazing start to lay the foundation with a brilliant century stand.Sehwag was unlucky to miss out on a hundred falling ten short.Gambhir went on to get a brilliant hundred.Dhoni promoted himself up the order and scored a timely half century once again ,enabling India to declare at 314 for 3 setting Australia a stiff target of 516.
India outbowl Australia
Never in the history of Indian cricket one has seen the Indian fast bowlers out bowl the Australian fast bowlers.Credit should also be given to the bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad.Ishant and Zaheer completely outbowled their Aussie counterparts.They hit the right lengths used not only the new ball well but also the old ball to get the reverse swing going.They were much better than the Aussies who looked completely flat in this test match.Back to back test matches not helping their cause.Mishra on debut got five wickets with flight, loop and turn.Indian bowlers bowled their heart out to bundle Australia for 268.With a lead of 201 Dhoni did not enforce the follow on.But when Australia had to chase down 516 ,they felt the heat.Harbhajan broke through initially taking three wickets,falling one short of 300 test wickets.But once again it was the quick's who did the damage.Ishant and Zaheer ripped through the Australian middle order leaving the Aussies to lick their wounds and a lot to think about ahead of the third test.
An unforgettable and riveting test match
It was an excellent pitch that had everything for everybody.Thus it lead to a unforgettable and a riveting test match.The curator needs to be lauded for producing such a quality wicket.It had runs for the batsman something for the quick's and something for the spinners as well.All in all a great advertisement for test cricket.Unfortunately not many people in the ground to watch the test match which had the Indian team at its best.At the end of the day this test match will be remembered for Master blaster scaling the peak.
