Part-time spinner Michael Clarke claimed three wickets in five balls of the penultimate over of the match to clinch Australia a dramatic 122-run second Test victory against India and a record-equaling 16th straight Test win yesterday.
India had looked to be hanging on for a determined draw, with skipper Anil Kumble leading the way with an unbeaten 45.
But he could only watch from the other end as the last three wickets tumbled in the second-last over to hand Australia an astonishing victory.
PHOTO: AFP
Clarke, with his left-arm spinners, claimed 3 for 5 off 11 balls to get Australia home and they will now shoot for a world record 17th straight win in the third Test in Perth starting on Jan. 16.
"It's right up there as far as I'm concerned," Australian skipper Ricky Ponting said about the victory. "That's as good a feeling as I've ever had on a cricket field, winning a Test like that, coming down to the last eight or 10 minutes on the fifth day."
While Clarke may have won Australia a thrilling Test, all-rounder Andrew Symonds was judged man-of-the-match with his unbeaten 162 and 61 and 3-51 in the second innings.
The Australian team fought to the end and ringed the remaining Indian batsmen with six fielders to get a breakthrough after Kumble and Harbhajan Singh looked likely to bat out for the draw.
Clarke removed Harbhajan for seven with his first delivery, had R.P. Singh leg before wicket on the next ball, and then wrapped up an exciting win when Mike Hussey caught last man Ishant Sharma with the fifth ball.
Kumble remained unbeaten but his effort was scuppered at the death.
The Australians retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as holders with a 2-0 lead after winning last week's Test in Melbourne.
Ponting's team have been undefeated in Tests since beating South Africa by 184 runs at the SCG two years ago.
India led from on the first innings after centuries by Sachin Tendulkar (154 not out) and V.V.S. Laxman (109), but the Australians played their best cricket over the last two days to seize victory.
Symonds broke through with two wickets in four balls to put India on the slide after tea.
Rahul Dravid was the victim of a contentious decision by umpire Steve Bucknor who gave him out caught behind even though television replays showed the ball missing Dravid's bat.
Dravid, who had resisted for almost two and a half hours and 103 balls for 38, looked incredulous as he left the pitch.
Yuvraj Singh continued his woeful series with a third-ball duck edging Symonds into Adam Gilchrist's gloves in the same over.
Ganguly fell in Lee's eighth over when he edged to second slip where Clarke took a low catch. Ganguly stood his ground but was sent on his way by umpire Mark Benson for 51.
Stuart Clark set the wheels in motion with the key wickets of V.V.S. Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar before tea.
The seamer trapped Laxman leg before wicket for 20 and struck again with the crucial scalp of Tendulkar in his fifth over for 12.
Opener Wasim Jaffer continued his dismal run of scores with a four-ball duck to Lee in the first over of the innings.
Ponting called a halt to Australia's second innings at 401 for seven, leaving India with 72 overs to go after the runs.
Hussey remained unbeaten on 145 off 259 balls at the time of the declaration for his eighth Test hundred and boosted his average to 84.8 in 20 Tests.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely