India defeat Australia!

The Indians defeat the World champions in the second Test at mohali



It was a match that was never out of India's control. After the tremendous work done over four days, they needed less than a session on the fifth morning to defeat Australia, sealing the Test by 320 runs, their biggest margin of victory in terms of runs ever. Zaheer Khan nipped out three wickets in the space of four deliveries when play started, and though Michael Clarke resisted with 69, it was always going to be a matter of when India would take a 1-0 series lead. In terms of runs, it was Australia's biggest defeat since their 343-run loss to West Indies in Barbados in 1991.

India had reduced Australia to 58 for 5 yesterday, but had to wait 84 runs for their next strike, after which proceedings resembled a bowling alley as Zaheer knocked over the lower order like nine pins. Zaheer was simply unplayable. He struck in the first over of the day, bowling Brad Haddin for 37 with a ripper. It pitched on a length, shaped back in, and took out the middle and off stumps. In his next over, Zaheer struck with his second and third deliveries and found himself on a hat-trick. A leaden-footed Cameron White went for a drive and edged to Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Next ball, Brett Lee had no clue to one pitched fractionally shorter and had his stumps splayed. Three wickets had fallen for three runs.

With nine men around the bat, Mitchell Johnson averted the hat-trick. Zaheer had slowly built up his momentum through the fourth day and struck gold on the fifth morning. He got the ball to move slightly away from the batsmen, and was very accurate. Ishant Sharma achieved movement both ways, evident when Clarke outside-edged towards slip - the ball didn't carry - and later inside-edged towards square leg.

Perhaps significant with two Tests to play, Clarke shrugged off an indifferent tour with a fluent 69. On a pitch with good movement and against bowlers who were on song, he batted with focus and determination. He and Johnson, who batted well for his 26 before popping a return catch to Amit Mishra, added 50. Clarke had been the glue that held a poor Australian innings together, but he was last out when he clipped Mishra - who finished with seven on debut - to midwicket. As the fat lady sang and Punjabi bhangra filled the Mohali air, Dhoni - India's stand-in captain who rarely made a wrong call through the Test - led the charge towards the catcher, Virender Sehwag.

Teams that have a habit of winning know how to seize the momentum and never let it go. Like Australia had done for the last decade and more, India did that very well in Mohali. They were, unquestionably, the superior side in this Test Read more!

India on threshold of a Famous Victory!

The Indians Rattle the mighty Aussies after a great display of batting by Opener Gautam Gambhir, Captain MS Dhoni and Virender Sehwag and some scintillating Spin by Harbhajan singh



Indians were dominant through out the Second Test match of the Four Test Series between India and Australia. The second test match which saw Tendulkar crossing 12,000 mark and becoming the Top run getter in test cricket history could provide India a lead in the series.

This morning Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir who were unbeaten on 100 last evening began their batting and Sehwag fell for 90. Then MS Dhoni promoted himself up the order to score some Quick runs and he did what was needed he scored some quick fire 68 while Gautam Gambhir flew towards his second Test century and First ever in India. then Dhoni added a further 66 with Sovrav Ganguly. Indians set Australia a massive 516 runs as the second Innings Target.

Then it was Bhajji show as things never got better fot the Aussies. To drive home their advantage, India dismissed Australia's openers in the last over before tea, tore the heart out of their middle order, and had them hemorrhaging at 141 for 5 . Harbhajan Singh, who took 3 for 23, and Ishant Sharma had once again turned on the heat when India needed it most.

Australia had launched a spirited chase for seven overs, racing to 49, but Harbhajan's double-wicket over before tea stunned them. Matthew Hayden, who had begun in one-day mode, tried to sweep and was lbw for 29. Three balls later Simon Katich, losing his composure, threw his bat at a flighted delivery and was superbly caught by Sachin Tendulkar, who had to dive forward to take the catch inches off the grass. The wickets had come in Harbhajan's first over, an inspired bowling change by Dhoni after the new-ball bowlers had been expensive.


Harbhajan tossed it up more than usual but a shooter brought him his third wicket soon after tea. The length was short and the ball skidded through to Michael Hussey who suffered from poor shot selection: he tried to pull but was hit plumb in front. The wicket sparked manic celebrations in Mohali for it was Harbhajan's 299th. Read more!