Laxman, Ishant pull off a spectacular one-wicket victory for India

Mohali: In one of the most dramatic comebacks in India's cricket Test history, VVS Laxman and Ishant Sharma pulled off a spectacular one-wicket victory over Australia in the first Test at the Mohali Cricket Stadium.

Laxman, suffering from a back spasm, literally carried India on his injured back with a fighting unbeaten 73 runs. He endured the pain for 183 minutes, played 79 balls and hit eight sparkling boundaries to ensure the win.

Australia had the match in their pocket. They were just two wickets away from victory, with India tottering at 124 for 8, chasing a target of 216 runs for victory.

A determined Sharma, who in an earlier interview during this Test match had remarked that he can bat if required, proved just that. His fighting knock of 31 with five boundaries withstanding 92 balls, ended to another shock decision by Umpire Ian Gould, who declared him leg before to a ball going down the leg side. Fortunately for India, last man Pragyan Ojha escaped a plum leg before a decision in a match, in which umpiring standards were at their lowest.

Laxman and Sharma dragged India from the shambles, choosing only the right ball to hit. The Australian bowlers bounced, spun the ball and did everything possible to break the partnership, which moved from strength to strength with every over.

India had started the day, needing 161 runs required for victory but lost wickets regularly and many felt Australia would finish off the match before lunch. And when Sachin Tendulkar, on whom all hopes rested, too fell for 38 runs, Australia looked unconquerable.

Doug Bollinger destroyed the Indian innings with a three wicket spell. The first to go was night watchman Zaheer Khan. His 34-ball innings for 10 runs ended when he played at spinner Nathan Hauritz' delivery, which did not get into the hands of Michael Clarke at the first slip.

Australia allowed Laxman to go with a runner. He walked in with Suresh Raina as his runner and was greeted with a bouncer by Ben Hilfenhaus. Tendulkar, very clearly aware of his presence in the middle and batted with caution. He neatly steered Hilfenhaus past the gully for a boundary. He also drove Hauritz between the umpire and non striker for a sparkling boundary and the crowd cheered for him. Indian fans stood up and cheered for Laxman when he hit Hauritz for two consecutive boundaries.

When India needed 94 more runs to win, Sachin Tendulkar arched back to play a square cut, but the ball flew to Michael Hussey in the gully who cheerfully held on to the catch. That was a prize wicket for the Australians who celebrated like they had won.

More disaster was to follow with India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who earlier had a poor match with the gloves and bat, getting run out in confusion with Raina. Hilfenhaus' direct hit left Dhoni stranded for just two.

Bollinger, who generated a good bounce and speed off the wicket, had Harbhajan Singh out for two with a short delivery that hit his gloves and flew to a smiling Australian skipper Ponting at the slip.

What followed after that wicket was one of the finest moments of this Test match. When all hopes were lost, Sharma who joined Laxman quickly came to the fore. He batted with the maturity of a top order batsman and provided Laxman with much needed support.

At lunch, they inched India 54 runs closer to victory. Laxman reached his 48th Test half century with a magnificent pull off Hilfenhaus. The crowd stood up to wave at him as Ponting walked around restless and biting his nails. In the end Laxman got a standing ovation.


Scores:

Australia 428 (Shane Watson 126, Ricky Ponting 71, Tim Paine 92; Zaheer Khan 5-94) & 192 (Shane Watson 56) v India 405 (Sachin Tendulkar 98, Suresh Raina 86, Rahul Dravid 77; Mitchell Johnson 5-64) & 216-9 (VVS Laxman 73 not out).

Courtresy : Gulf News