Breaking the jinx, Team India outclassed the mighty Australians at the WACA ground in Perth today when it registered 72 runs victory. By all accounts, it is a sweet victory. With this morale-boosting win, India keeps alive the hopes of drawing the four-Test series with the final Test to be played in Adelaide from Thursday.
This victory is all the more important for the resurgent Indian team since the last two weeks have been full of perturbed uncertainties between the two teams before skipper Kumble took a bold initiative, withdrawing Hogg’s complaint, and eased out the tension.
Winning the toss and electing to bat on a fast Perth pitch was indeed a bold decision on Indian skipper’s part, and when India scored 330 in the first inning, it was satisfactory with Dravid and Sachin came out with a responsible innings of 93 and 71 runs respectively.
More convincing was the lead of 118 runs that India got in the first innings. Though our second innings started with an opening stand of 57 runs on the board, things began getting out of India’s control after they lost three quick wickets.
With the Troika – Dravid, Sachin and Ganguly – returned back to the pavilion, it was left to Very Very Special (VVS) Laxman to take up the gauntlet and make sure that Team India should put up a brave fight this time. Pathan and Dhoni added valuable runs apart from two important partnerships lower down the order.
However, the most important point of India’s performance was its bowling. It is rather surprising and heartening that even without the experienced pacer like Zaheer, the young Irfan, Ishant and RP made it for India with Kumble and Sehwag doing the rest.
The Aussies started the day with 62 for 2 with both the Aussie openers were already in the pavilion. They had a mammoth target of 413 runs set by India. Ponting looked rock solid and much determined while Hussey was extra cautious.
But a rising delivery from lanky Ishant took a thick outside edge out of Ponting’s willow and Dravid did the rest. Ponting followed by Hussey who was beaten in the air of RP’s delivery and was trapped in front.
India sniffed the victory, as scoreboard was reading 4 for 159. Kumble departed Symonds after foxing him with his trademark googlie. Clarke was holding the fort from the other end, and when it seemed that he along with Gilchrist would go on to build up a big innings, Kumble played his masterstroke and changed his strategy, which worked.
Kumble brought Sehwag, who much to the dismay of Aussie wicketkeeper uprooted his middle stump. Later, Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson provided some late resistance to the team as the duo added 73 valuable runs for the ninth wicket. Not only both the tailenders played some magnificent shots, but also gave some anxious moments to the Indian skipper.
It was time for new ball to be taken and Kumble did not hesitate for a while. Man of the match Irfan struck back while breaking the dangerous looking partnership in the fourth over, after the new ball was taken.
Irfan made Stuart Clark play a rising delivery that took the edge and Dhoni exulted, and with him millions of fans across the country. That was a crucial breakthrough. Now India was at the brink of an historical victory with just a wicket away.
RP Singh from the other side cleaned up the last batsman Shaun Tait to finish off the proceedings. Along with millions of viewers here in India, Team India erupted in frission of excitement.
It’s a team victory, no doubt. Everyone played to its potential, especially the bowlers who bowled with a calculated line and length. In fact, the whole team exhibited great amount of character and determination, and we can hope that the performance should continue from hereon.
SCOREBOARD
India (1st innings): 330
Australia (1st innings): 212
India (2nd innings): 294
Australia (2nd innings, overnight 65/2)
Chris Rogers c Dhoni b Pathan 15
Phil Jaques c Jaffer b Pathan 16
Ricky Ponting c Dravid b Sharma 45
Mike Hussey lbw b Singh 46
Michael Clarke st Dhoni b Kumble 81
Andrew Symonds lbw b Kumble 12
Adam Gilchrist b Sehwag 15
Brett Lee c Laxman b Sehwag 0
Mitchell Johnson not out 50
Stuart Clark c Dhoni b Pathan 32
Shaun Tait b Singh 4
Extras: (lb 6, w 8, nb 10) 24
Total: 340 all out in 86.5 overs
Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-43, 3-117, 4-159, 5-177, 6-227, 7-229, 8-253, 9-326, 10-340
Bowling:
Rudra Pratap Singh 21.5-4-95-2 (3w)
Irfan Pathan 16-2-54-3
Ishant Sharma 17-0-63-1 (7nb, 1w)
Anil Kumble 24-2-98-2 (3nb)
Virender Sehwag 8-1-24-2
Result: India won by 72 runs
Series: Australia lead four-match series 2-1
Man of the Match: Irfan Pathan
Toss: India
Umpires: Billy Bowden (New Zealand) and Asad Rauf (Pakistan)
Match referee: Mike Procter (South Africa)
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