Very Very Special Laxman does it again
Perhaps he was born to do the extraordinary and that too against the most formidable team in the world. Once again, it was the combination of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 and adversity that inspired VVS Laxman to do the unthinkable.
It was in 2001 that Laxman was the hero when he pulled of an improbable win after being forced to follow-on. Laxman had scored a monumental double hundred which helped his team halt the Aussie juggernaut that was on a 16 match winning streak back then.
Mohali on Tuesday was no different as it was a win from the absolute brink of defeat once again. The hosts had crashed to 124 for 8 and were 92 runs away from a win when Laxman was joined by Ishant Sharma. The duo added 79 runs on what was a brilliant fight
back. Laxman kept the scoreboard ticking with the odd boundary while the lanky Sharma blocked one end and kept rotating the strike.
The pace man looked extremely competent with the bat and despite the constant aggression by the Aussies Sharma kept fighting his way through.
The two steadily narrowed the gap and brought the runs down to within striking distance. With this hosts seemingly cruising and the visitors bereft of ideas, the Australian captain threw the ball to his reliable new ball bowler Ben Hilfenhaus.
Hilfenhaus brought his team right back in contention when he dismissed Ishant Sharma lbw with a ball that tailed into the batsman.
The Australians appeal vociferously and umpire Ian http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Captain-Gould-c41006 who generally had a forgettable match raised his finger, the decision was another howler from the Englishman as the ball was clearly missing the leg-stump.
Sharma fell for 31 off 92 balls. He struck five fours in his innings. Despite his efforts, it seemed that the visitors would pull of a win after his departure as there was just one wicket standing.
Last man Pragyan Ojha looked nervous in the pressure cooker atmosphere, yet he along with Laxman took the required runs down to single figures.
The decisive moment in the match came when Ojha was hit on the pads. As the Australians appealed, he attempted to take a run but was sent back midway by Raina who was running for Laxman.
The fielder at point region threw the ball at the stumps but the ball went over the ropes as there was no one backing up the throw. The hosts were now left with two runs to win.
The winning runs came two balls later as Johnson misfired an attempted yorker that hit Ojha on the pads and trickled down the fine leg region.
The batsmen ran two leg byes to trigger wild celebrations in the Indian camp.
Even the bruised and battered Laxman who was struggling with a back injury could not hold himself back and jumped in the air in delight on what was a monumental achievement.
This was the second match winning effort by the Hyderabadi in as many matches.
He guided the Indians through a tricky chase against the Sri Lankans in the last test match of the series in the pearl island a few months ago.
Interestingly, Laxman was suffering from back spasms in that match as well. At the end of it all, one is made to think that adversity, back injury and VVS Laxman is a lethal combination and at this rate, the cricket mad nation of India would be hoping that
VVS never recovers from his bad back.
A shell shocked Ricky Ponting later conceded that the difference in the match was the stand between http://www.senore.com/Cricket/VVS-Laxman-c2772.
“The partnership between Ishant and Laxman was great and it made the difference I guess”, were the words of Ponting who is still searching for his first test series win in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750.
Tags: