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India win Mohali Test, take unbeatable 3-0 series lead
Monday March 18, 2013 06:40:22 PM,
IANS
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Mohali: India took
an unassailable 3-0 lead in the Border-Gavaskar cricket series
beating Australia by six wickets in a thrilling finish on the
final day of the third Test at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA)
Stadium here Monday.
The victory was all the more creditable as it came in four days
after rain washed out the opening day's play without a ball being
bowled. Debutant Shikhar Dhawan was judged Man of the Match for
his whirlwind 187.
On the final day, there were stages when Australia looked like
saving the Test, particularly when the last two wickets added 80
runs to stretch their second innings score to 223. That, however,
left India to get only a meagre 132 runs for victory in a minimum
of 33.3 overs. Australia made 408 in the first innings and India
replied with 499.
There was some artificial excitement in the last hour when India
made heavy weather of the target. Eventually, skipper Mahendra
Singh Dhoni (18 not out) took the team home, hitting three
consecutive fours with 2.3 overs left.
India started with Murali Vijay (26) and Cheteshwar Pujara (28) as
first-innings century-maker Shikhar Dhawan injured his finger
while fielding and did not come out to bat. The duo added 42 runs
for the first wicket before VIjay was stumped by Brad Haddin off
left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty.
Then Pujara and Virat Kohli (34) added 28 runs for the
second-wicket before Nathan Lyon trapped Pujara leg-before.
Kohli hit some crisp fours, but run-making was not easy as fast
bowlers Peter Siddle and Mitchell Starc kept a tight line, using
reverse swing to good effect. Siddle got rid of the well-set Kohli,
whose mistimed flick ended up in the hands of a diving Phil Hughes
at short mid-wicket.
With 17 required off the last four overs, Sachin Tendulkar (21)
was run out after a brilliant effort from David Warner. Ravindra
Jadeja (8 not out) hit two fours in the same over to ease the
pressure and left it to Dhoni to finish off in style.
Earlier, Jadeja (3/35) and Pragyan Ojha's left-arm spin (2/26) ran
through the Australian middle order with offie Ravichandran Ashwin
chipping in with two, including the wicket of top scorer Phil
Jacques, who struck form with a gritty 69.
Ojha and Jadeja bowled in tandem as Australia lost five wickets
for 54 runs. Ojha was the first to strike to get rid of
night-watchman Nathan Lyon (18), caught behind by Dhoni.
Jadeja dismissed skipper Michael Clarke (18) for the fifth time in
the series as the Australian skipper tried to flick and was caught
bat-pad by Pujara.
Jadeja removed Moises Henriques (2) with an excellent diving catch
off his own bowling and Ojha castled Siddle (13) to leave
Australia struggling at 143 for eight.
Then came the two stubborn stands to carry Australia past the
200-run mark. Brad Haddin (30) and Starc (35) added 36 runs for
the ninth wicket while Starc and Doherty (18) contributed valuable
44 runs for the last wicket.
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