Irfan Pathan is the man of the match. The Indian cricket
team wrapped up a memorable victory down under as they responded in the best
possible manner after all the baptism suffered after the infamous Sydney
test match with a famous victory at the WACA in Perth. Australia
chasing a massive target of 423, were done in by some majestic swing bowling
by Irfan Pathan coupled by the surprisingly vicious spin bowling of Virender
Sehwag and were bowled out for 340 . With the series now at 2-1, all the
focus shifts to Adelaide for the fourth test match beginning in a week's time.
Australia went into the morning session two down for sixty
odd runs and Ricky Pointing was handed a torrid time by upcoming paceman
Ishant Sharma. Sharma was bang on target from ball one and his rapid
pace made it nearly impossible for the Pointing to negotiate his brilliant out
swingers. After keeping him on the hooks for an n hour, he finally seduced Pointing
into a flashing drive that kissed the edge of the bat into the gleeful arms
of Rahul Dravid. Michael Hussey was the next to go, trapped by a vicious in
winger by paceman RP Sing that trapped him in front of the wicket, despite replays
suggesting that the ball may have bounced over the top. The fall of Hussey brought
in India's nemesis in recent times, Andrew Symonds. Symonds looked in ominous
touch as he spanked Kumble for a huge six over straight down the wicket. However,
he was accounted for by the skipper when one of Kumble's trademark faster deliveries
scaling 102 Kmph ripped through his defence to catch him plumb in front of the
wicket.
Soon, Adam Gilchrist come on the crease and at that point,
skipper Anil Kumble took a big gamble in bringing on part time spinner Virender Sehwag. However, in retrospect that move could possibly be one of Kumble's
finest in his short stint as Indian test captain as Sehwag had Gilchrist bowled
down the legs and then had Lee caught at first slip by Laxman to leave Australia
reeling at 229/7. Things took a turn for the worse for the Aussies half an hour
later as Michael Clarke who had been batting so brilliantly this innings, was
seduced into a drive by a well flighted Kumble delivery and was promptly stumped
by the ecstatic Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
At 253/8, India were sensing blood like wounded tiger ready to make its final
attack on its prey. However, they were denied immediate success by some wonderful
exhibition of tail end batting by Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clarke. The two
relatively young holder of the Baggie Green honked the Indian bowling around
for a run a ball partnership of 73. However, India had the last laugh as Clarke
nicked one of Irfan Pathan's out swingers and RP Singh duly completed the last
rites with a ripping yorker that evaded a despairing Shaun Tait's defence to
give India a memorable 72 run victory over the Aussies.
With that victory. India became the only side to have
won twice on Australian soil in the past decade and with the backdrop of all
the unfortunate events at Sydney, this victory will be all the more sweeter
for the Indians as they managed to squeeze past the Australian's on a ground
which has been a fortress for team Australia in recent times.
India's victory was primarily based on some excellent batting displays by veterans
Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman coupled with the all round performances of Irfan
Pathan and RP Singh. The India team in the recent past has managed to overcome
it's away day blues and this victory over the world champions within four days
will certainly help India move up to the next level of performance, stability
and flair.
With the third test reaching a nail biting exciting conclusion,
all the focus shifts to Adelaide for this fourth test match. The Australian
cricket team is expected to fight back with vengeance after this humiliating
loss while India would be hoping to square the series and extract huge moral
advantage before the one day series. Catch up with all the action from the fourth
test here. Keep in tune with the Indian cricket scores with our RSS and
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