Australia downed India comprehensively on the 4th
day of the Boxing Test to go 1-0 up in the series. India could not
prevent the Aussie lower order to help their team post a daunting
target, and then capitulated disappointingly to hand the home team
psychological advantage for the remainder of the series.
The
last two wickets batted astutely for Australia and extended the total
to 240 from the overnight 179. Although Hussey got out after thumping
two fours, and threatening for more, when Zaheer induced a faint edge to
Dhoni who accepted it gleefully. He innings of 89 with 9 fours gave his
team a real chance and him reassurance for some more time in the team.
Zaheer dropped Pattinson who played well for his 36 not out before Hilfenhaus gave a second-slip catch to Laxman. Both men added crucial 43 runs for the last wicket, giving India a tough task of 291 to chase on a deteriorating pitch - a record chase at the venue.
Probably under pressure of a big chase and in sight of the Lunch break, Sehwag played loosely outside off giving Hussey a comfortable catch at gully - a vital breakthrough for Australia. It was a big jolt to India’s prospects as Sehwag was the man who could have given the home team real headache with his presence at the crease.
Soon after Lunch, Gambhir got out to Siddle in a familiar fashion, edging behind. At 39 for 2, the target looked a long way away. The man known as Wall, Rahul Dravid, could not rescue his team on this occasion as he was clean-bowled all ends up by a jubilant Pattinson. With Tendulkar at the crease and the new man Laxman walking in, India hoped for some resistance from the pair. The hope was based on the fact that Tendulkar looked in great form in the first outing while Laxman always relished situations like these.
But the hope was short-lived.
Pattinson accounted for Laxman, tempting him to go aerial on the leg side after testing him with the away swingers. Laxman could not resist and was held low at square leg by Ed Cowan. The Australians were all over India at this stage as the vociferous MCG crowd went berserk. The riot did not end here. India’s half team was gone to the hut at the score of 69, when Virat Kohli was trapped plumb in front by Hilfenhaus.
MS Dhoni started his account with a six off Peter Siddle to signal a counter attack out of desperation, but the plan died soon after birth as Siddle sent Tendulkar back to the pavilion. He was again positive for his 32, but flirting with a widish delivery cost him and India dearly.
Ashwin, as he did in the first innings, played uninhibitedly and took India to Tea at 117 for 6, still miles away from the coast.
After Tea, Siddle removed Ashwin for 30 while Zaheer was taken care of by Pattinson, but not after he had hit him for a four and a six. In his next over, Pattinson had Dhoni played on for 23 but the chase had already run out of gas. It was Nathan Lyon who took the last wicket when Yadav, after slogging a six, perished to long on trying to repeat the shot. The ground erupted in joy as Australians celebrated an important win.
Pattinson took 4 for 53, continuing his dream entry in international cricket, while Siddle got 3 for 42. For India, none of their stalwarts could resist a resurgent young Aussie attack. They lost by a big margin of 122 runs.
In the end it was a fitting result for the home team, which played well in the important phases of the match. Indians, on the other hand, failed under pressure and they need to lift themselves a few notches if they are to challenge Australia in the next Test.
Summarised Scores:
Australia 333 (Cowan 68, Ponting 62; Zaheer 4/77, Yadav 3/106) and 240 (Hussey 89, Ponting 60; Yadav 4/70, Zaheer 3/53) beat India 282 (Tendulkar 73, Dravid 68; Hilfenhaus 5/75, Siddle 3/63) and 169 (Tendulkar 32, Pattinson 4/53, Siddle 3/42) by 122 runs
Heroe of the Day: James Pattinson
Flop of the Day: Virender Sehwag
Disappointments of the Day: Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul dravid, VVS Laxman
Man of the Match: James Pattinson
Credits: AFP (Image)
Match Report – 1st Test: Day 3, Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Melbourne Cricket Ground, 26-30 December 2011
Zaheer dropped Pattinson who played well for his 36 not out before Hilfenhaus gave a second-slip catch to Laxman. Both men added crucial 43 runs for the last wicket, giving India a tough task of 291 to chase on a deteriorating pitch - a record chase at the venue.
Probably under pressure of a big chase and in sight of the Lunch break, Sehwag played loosely outside off giving Hussey a comfortable catch at gully - a vital breakthrough for Australia. It was a big jolt to India’s prospects as Sehwag was the man who could have given the home team real headache with his presence at the crease.
Soon after Lunch, Gambhir got out to Siddle in a familiar fashion, edging behind. At 39 for 2, the target looked a long way away. The man known as Wall, Rahul Dravid, could not rescue his team on this occasion as he was clean-bowled all ends up by a jubilant Pattinson. With Tendulkar at the crease and the new man Laxman walking in, India hoped for some resistance from the pair. The hope was based on the fact that Tendulkar looked in great form in the first outing while Laxman always relished situations like these.
But the hope was short-lived.Pattinson accounted for Laxman, tempting him to go aerial on the leg side after testing him with the away swingers. Laxman could not resist and was held low at square leg by Ed Cowan. The Australians were all over India at this stage as the vociferous MCG crowd went berserk. The riot did not end here. India’s half team was gone to the hut at the score of 69, when Virat Kohli was trapped plumb in front by Hilfenhaus.
MS Dhoni started his account with a six off Peter Siddle to signal a counter attack out of desperation, but the plan died soon after birth as Siddle sent Tendulkar back to the pavilion. He was again positive for his 32, but flirting with a widish delivery cost him and India dearly.
Ashwin, as he did in the first innings, played uninhibitedly and took India to Tea at 117 for 6, still miles away from the coast.
After Tea, Siddle removed Ashwin for 30 while Zaheer was taken care of by Pattinson, but not after he had hit him for a four and a six. In his next over, Pattinson had Dhoni played on for 23 but the chase had already run out of gas. It was Nathan Lyon who took the last wicket when Yadav, after slogging a six, perished to long on trying to repeat the shot. The ground erupted in joy as Australians celebrated an important win.
Pattinson took 4 for 53, continuing his dream entry in international cricket, while Siddle got 3 for 42. For India, none of their stalwarts could resist a resurgent young Aussie attack. They lost by a big margin of 122 runs.
In the end it was a fitting result for the home team, which played well in the important phases of the match. Indians, on the other hand, failed under pressure and they need to lift themselves a few notches if they are to challenge Australia in the next Test.
Summarised Scores:
Australia 333 (Cowan 68, Ponting 62; Zaheer 4/77, Yadav 3/106) and 240 (Hussey 89, Ponting 60; Yadav 4/70, Zaheer 3/53) beat India 282 (Tendulkar 73, Dravid 68; Hilfenhaus 5/75, Siddle 3/63) and 169 (Tendulkar 32, Pattinson 4/53, Siddle 3/42) by 122 runs
Heroe of the Day: James Pattinson
Flop of the Day: Virender Sehwag
Disappointments of the Day: Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul dravid, VVS Laxman
Man of the Match: James Pattinson
Credits: AFP (Image)
Published in SP on 29/12/12
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