India narrowly defeat Australia in Mohali Test
India have defeated Australia by one wicket in the first match of their two Test series, with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/VVS-Laxman-c2772 overcoming a back injury to post an all-important half century for his side.
After beginning their chase of a modest 216-run target poorly in the final session on day four, finishing on 55-4, the home side lost Zaheer Khan (10) early on day five when spinner Nathan Hauritz got the ball to hold its line and the batsman supplied the edge to Michael http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 at first slip.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Khan-c71319’s dismissal, however, brought the injured Laxman to the crease (albeit with a runner) with Sachin Tendulkar for a 43-run partnership before Doug Bollinger claimed his second wicket of the innings; the Little Master caught by Michael Hussey for 38.
Tendulkar’s dismissal triggered a mini-collapse for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028’s side, and it was the skipper himself who was next to make the lonely walk back to the pavilion, after he was run out after adding just two runs to the total.
Harbhajan Singh was equally unsuccessful with the bat, as Bollinger struck again to dismiss the 30-year-old for just two as well, with Ricky Ponting no doubt enjoying taking the catch that ended his old nemesis’ innings before it had a chance to begin; the dismissal leaving India languishing on 124-8.
With Laxman valiantly holding up his end, and India’s No. 10 batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 attack, wrapping up the tail proved to be no easy task for the visiting side.
They may have been the walking wounded, but Laxman and Sharma hung on for an 81-wicket stand, which was finally broken when Ben Hilfenhaus – so instrumental in Australia’s demolition of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750’s top order yesterday – took his fourth wicket of the innings when he trapped Sharma lbw for 31.
The wicket left the match delicately poised with India just 11 runs short of their victory target but the tourists needing to claim just one more scalp to make a winning start to the Test series against their hosts.
In the end it was India who claimed the honours, with Laxman finishing unbeaten on 73 and Pragyan Ojha surviving for 10 balls and five runs to take a 1-0 series lead against Ponting’s side heading into the second Test of the series in Bangalore, beginning on October 9th.
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