Australia seals four-match Test series 2-1 in their favour after the final Test ended in a draw
Australia sealed the keenly contested four-match Test series 2-1 in their favour after the fourth and final cricket Test ended in a draw at the Adelaide Oval on Monday. The Indian team saved some anxious moments during the day as Delhi dazzler Virender Sehwag came to fore for tourists with a resolute yet thrilling 151 to take his team to safe side on the concluding day's play.
Resuming their second innings at 45 for one, India needed to see through the day to ensure a draw when they came out to bat on the last day, they overcame some nervous moments before ending up on 269 for seven in their second innings with both teams settled to call off play on a placid Adelaide Oval track that didn’t provide much help to the bowling side on the last day.
The outcome of the match meant that Australia retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after the Indians offered some stiff resistance to the world conquerors in a pulsating and historical series to an extent as it provided much drama both on and off the field.
The highlight of the day was Sehwag’s 13th century of just 123 balls, which has come nearly after a year and a half. Sehwag held the fort from one side for more than five hours as wickets were coming thick and fast from the other end.
The Aussies pushed hard for the result but Sehwag denied them victory. They couldn’t be able to get past Sehwag but when they succeeded, it was too late by then. Except Sehwag, who hit 11 boundaries and two massive shots over the ropes during his 236-ball stay, no other Indian batsmen could defy disciplined Aussie attack for long.
Man of the match, Tendulkar, got himself ran out for 13 in search of a cheeky single, after a direct hit from Mitchell Johnson. Ganguly (18) was next to go of when he gave an easy catch to Mike Hussey at short cover off Johnson, while Laxman (12) caught behind by Gilchrist while trying to glance a Lee delivery.
Lee got his second when he sent Mahendra Singh Dhoni to pavilion on the score of 20, brilliantly caught by Matthew Hayden in the slips, then Sehwag caught by Gilchrist when the former got a nick off Andrew Symonds.
Harbhajan Singh soon followed for seven, caught by skipper Ponting off Brad Hogg. Anil Kumble (nine not out) and Ishant Sharma (two not out) negotiated the last few overs before the skippers shook hands.
The high-scoring match became the part of history, as it will be remembered as the last match for many. Though it was Adam Gilchrist's last Test appearance since the wicket-keeper had decided to hang his gloves.
Gilchrist took two catches to take his final career tally to 416 dismissals, three days after breaking the world record of pouching highest dismissals.
Also this Test match was probably the last Test appearance of Indian stalwarts like Sachin Tendulkar, captain Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman on Australian soil.
The crowd incredibly lauded the efforts of charismatic wicket-keeper batsman, as he walked out of the field for the last time, including all the Indian players, who shook hands with Gilchrist in a poignant gesture after the end of the game.
SCOREBOARD
India 1st Innings: 526 Australia 1st Innings: 563 India 2nd Innings: Virender Sehwag c Gilchrist b Symonds 151, Irfan Pathan lbw b Johnson 0,k Rahul Dravid retired hurt 11, Sachin Tendulkar run out 13, Sourav Ganguly c Hussey b Johnson 18, V.V.S.Laxman c Gilchrist b Lee, 12 M.S.Dhoni c Hayden b Lee 20, Anil Kumble not out 9, Harbhajan Singh c Ponting b Hogg 7, Ishant Sharma not out 2
Extras: (9b, 9lb, 3w, 5nb) 26 Total: 269 for seven wickets declared in 90 overs. Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-128, 3-162, 4-186, 5-237, 6-253, 7-264. Did not bat: R P Singh.
Bowling: Brett Lee 27-3-74-2 (3nb), Mitchell Johnson 16-1-33-2, Andrew Symonds 22-4-52-1, Stuart Clark 12-3-37-0, Brad Hogg 12-3-53-1, Michael Clarke 1-0-2-0.
Result: Match ended in a draw, Australia won four matches Test series 2-1
Man of the Match: Sachin Tendulkar Man of the Series: Brett Lee Umpires: Asad Rauf, Pakistan and Billy Bowden, New Zealand. TV Umpire: Steve Davis, Australia. Match Referee: Mike Procter, South Africa.
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