Indian magic tames Oz in Perth

This gentleman8217;s game has seen some of the greatest victories resulting from fighting, grabbing and snatching.

This gentleman8217;s game has seen some of the greatest victories resulting from fighting, grabbing and snatching. India fought through the tough hours, engaged in little man-to-man battles over four days, grabbed and re-grabbed the initiative with some spot-on performances and finally, deprived Ricky Ponting8217;s boys of the world record to weave their own piece of history 8212; and all this in the spirit of the game.

The result was clear in the afternoon itself when the top-half of the hosts8217; innings was dismantled but the official intimation came at 5.58 pm. India won by 72 runs to come back 1-2 in this series. The most-feared wicket remained a myth but this victory at the WACA is real and will be remembered as one of the best-ever Test victories. The world champions were stifled into submission and being alien to the feeling of being under pressure, the Australians cracked.

There was a little rebellion towards the end with an entertaining ninth-wicket partnership of 73 in 12.5 overs between Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson 8212; the latter even reaching his half-century with two sixes and five fours. But the hosts, requiring 348 further today since the start of their 413 chase, were always placed like a candle in the wind. And it blew off in 86.5 overs, with 340 on board.

The struggle started right in the first over. Hussey survived a close leg before shout off the third ball of the morning but Ricky Ponting can best describe details of the morning hour. The Australian skipper, who averages in the 90s in fourth innings, was tormented by Ishant Sharma no end 8212; the young quickie getting the ball to cut in and move out from the same length outside off, and making Ponting search for the ball like a novice.

Ponting8217;s misery in judgment was compounded by the stifling length the Indians bowled at through the first session, though the stranglehold was lost for a while when RP Singh sent down a few ordinary deliveries and Irfan Pathan, who replaced him, failed to put a cap on it too.

After rapping him on the pads on few occasions, Ishant made a delivery stay in its line and kiss the edge of Ponting8217;s bat and Dravid at second slip was equally jubilant to accept the offering.

The skipper was first to be moved out of the way after scoring 45 8212; just before lunch 8212; and though Hussey and Michael Clarke continued confidently in their pursuit, a set of lbw shockers from Asad Rauf and Billy Bowden from either end, dealt a death blow.

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Rauf first upheld RP8217;s appeal against Hussey, who was on 46, when the ball went well above the line of stumps and Bowden, who gave a couple of five-ball overs in the first session, decided against Symonds despite a thick inside edge with the batsman on 12.

Clarke and Gilchrist rattled off a 50-run partnership but it seemed too late in the day, which was confirmed after a clever bowling change 8212; the introduction of Virender Sehwag 8212; and Gilchrist8217;s dismissal coincided with the first ball. Sehwag bowled the Australian vice-captain round his legs after an unsuccessful sweep shot attempt and then snapped up Brett Lee at silly point as Laxman took a sharp ankle-height catch.

Clarke was marooned at the other end, and it was clear that he was fighting a lost battle, but he ensured with some sparkling cover drives and straight dashes that his team retained some lustre in the contest. Clarke reached his half-century off 88 balls with seven fours and was severe against the seamers but Kumble produced a perfect leg-break to leave him stranded mid-way through the pitch as Dhoni clipped the bails to curtail his stay to 163 minutes, and contribution to 81.

Thereon, it was some hard-punching from Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson 8212; the latter hitting Kumble for three fours in an over through mid-wicket to strokes that resembled a cross between a sweep and a swipe. Kumble rattled his stumps the same over but off a no-ball and it meant more entertainment for the spectators, and more frustration for the Indians with some missed catches, edges not carrying and a huge six that got Australia past 300.

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The second new ball was defied 23 times as RP and Pathan tried to bang in and was smartly belted around, before better sense prevailed. Pathan swung in fuller and Clark succumbed by edging to Dhoni, who took the catch and matched Nayan Mongia8217;s eight dismissals in a Test.

Eleven balls later, the sound of Shuan Tait8217;s disturbed timber was music to Indian ears. And Indian players came running around from all sides of the park, and beyond from the dressing room to join the celebrations at the center. It8217;s an upset win 8212;- only because this team has upset many critics and calculations to win a Test in Australia.

India 1st innings 330

Australia 1st innings 212

India 2nd innings 294

AUSTRALIA 2ND INNINGS OVERNIGHT 65/2

R Ponting c Dravid b Ishant 45

M Hussey lbw b RP Singh 46

M Clarke st Dhoni b Kumble 81

A Symonds lbw Kumble 12

A Gilchrist b Sehwag 15

B Lee c Laxman b Sehwag 0

M Johnson not out 50

S Clark c Dhoni b Pathan 32