http://www.senore.com/Cricket/VVS-Laxman-c2772 bails India out of jail
The first Test between India and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 of the Border-Gavaskar trophy at Mohali, ended in dramatic fashion as the host won by one wicket in a cracking game of cricket on Tuesday. India, the defending champion of the Border-Gavaskar trophy, held their
nerves in the end to take a 1-0 lead in the two match test series.
Australia had piled up a respectable total of 425 runs in the first innings, thanks to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 replied in a reasonable manner, courtesy of a partnership between Suresh Raina and Sachin Tendulkar worth 124 runs that took the
score to 4/354. India was all set to take a substantial lead. However, part time spinner Marcus North did the trick by dismissing Sachin on 98. In addition, Johnson with his left arm pace bowling, rattled the Indian lower-order by dismissing the settled Raina
for 86. He went on to register first innings figures of 5/64. The left armer ensured a lead of 23 runs over India.
Australia started their second innings in a solid manner with Watson striking a half century. The Kangaroos were going along nicely with the score at 154/4 with Hussey and North at the crease. But in came Harbhajan Singh who initiated the demise of the Australian
innings by taking Hussey and North in quick succession. Zaheer Khan took full advantage of the reversing ball at the other end, sneaking with three quick wickets, and taking a total of 8 wickets. As a result, Australia lost their last six wickets for just
38 runs. India only needed 216 runs to go one up in the series.
A modest target of 216 looked like an easy walk in the park for the strong Indian batting line-up. However, the men from down-under went about their business of defending this small total in an emphatic manner, with Hilfenhaus dismissing http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gautam-Gambhir-c58623 leg
before wicket for a duck on the fourth ball of the first over. Hilfenhaus then took 3 quick wickets in the dying moments of the third session to push India on the back foot at 55/4.
India started the fifth and final day with Sachin and night watchman Zaheer Khan on the crease. The pair added 28 more runs for the fifth wicket stand when Zaheer finally edged one to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 in the slips off the bowling of Nathan Hauritz. The score at the
time read 5/76 - pushing the match in Australia’s favour. All India needed at this time was a batting hero to save them from a crushing defeat.
The stage was all set for VVS Laxman to torment his favourite opposition. Laxman, who was suffering from back spasms, did not make any telling contribution in the first innings. He joined Tendulkar with a runner. It looked as if Laxman would let the situation
get the better of him. However, against all expectations, Laxman grew in confidence and his stroke play improved as he spent more time in the middle.
He started milking the ball for singles and two’s. He knew he had the little master on the other end. But then the unthinkable happened. Sachin scoped one in the air to gully against a Bollinger delivery, throwing doubts across the ground that India was
crashing towards a loss. Laxman was left alone, stranded on a score of 6/119. Neither Harbhajan nor Dhoni helped India's cause as they went to the pavilion cheaply without disturbing the score line too.
The burden fell on Laxman’s shoulder to carry India towards victory. Australia had the match at 124/8 when http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ishant-Sharma-c64566 joined Laxman. To everyone’s surprise, the pair added 81 runs to narrow the gap between India and victory with Laxman hitting some crisp
boundaries. Hilfenhaus fought back with Sharma’s wicket, which swung the pendulum in Australia’s favour once again.
But Laxman was there on a mission. He stood on the crease, calm and composed and along with Pragyan Ojha, the maestro sealed victory for India. VVS Laxman ended the match with an unbeaten 73 of 79 balls. The two teams now head towards Bangalore for the second
and final test match starting on the 9th of October.
Tags: