Aussies hit back at India
09 November, 2008

Shane Watson Shane Watson and Jason Krejza each claimed two wickets in quick succession as the momentum swung Australia's way before tea in the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaksar series against India which now finds itself on 6-166 with a lead of 252.

India openers Virender Sehwag and Murali Vijay had all but shut the door on the visitors with a 116-run stand for the opening wicket when Watson sent Vijay back for 41.

But Watson snaffled Rahul Dravid for three and Brett Lee had Sehwag caught down the leg-side for 92, the quick dismissals offering the visitors a glimmer of hope.

Off-spinner Jason Krejza then removed VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly off successive deliveries - the latter going for a first-ball duck in his final innings in Test cricket - to be on a hat-trick for the second time in his debut match and Sachin Tendulkar was run out in the final over before tea as India collapsed.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni was the not out batsman on three.

Lee, suffering from a stomach disorder, had sent down a couple of tight overs at the start, but Sehwag and Vijay carefully watched out that blistering spell.

Left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson had beat the outside edge on several occasions in an unbroken spell of nine overs, his outside off-stump line luring Sehwag in to the drive.

Sehwag, however, survived those close calls and eased into attack as he hit Lee for consecutive boundaries as the paceman began to tire.

Lee quickly gave way to Krejza, who immediately had an lbw shout off Sehwag turned down by umpire Billy Bowden.

Krejza, who picked up eight wickets in the first innings at an expensive 215 runs, again proved costly, going at over five runs an over in his first five overs.

Sehwag brought up his half-century with a slog-sweep off the debutant off-spinner to the mid-on boundary for six.

Lee, however, ended Sehwag's run, getting the opener to jab at a short delivery pitched on leg-stump. Sehwag managed only a faint edge which wicketkeeper Brad Haddin neatly pouched.

By then Dravid had departed, going on the front foot to defend Watson and edging to Haddin.

That dismissal brought the curtain down on a poor series for Dravid, where he managed just 120 runs in seven innings at an average of 20.

From 0-116, India crashed to 6-166 as Krejza made his mark.

He bowled Laxman for four, getting one to spin viciously past the blade of the batsman from the rough outside off stump and crash into the stumps.


Krejza then latched on to the leading edge from Ganguly as the left-hander, who will retire at the end of this match, attempted to play on the on-side.

Ganguly, sent for a first-ball duck, was Krejza's 10th victim in this match.

Tendulkar was the final blow in a tumultuous session for India after the batsman set off for a run after pushing to the covers.

Dhoni at the other end failed to respond and Tendulkar could not make his crease.

India wins series
10 November, 2008

Amit Mishra Harbhajan Singh claimed four wickets and Amit Mishra picked up three as India completed a 172-run victory in the fourth Test against Australia to clinch the Border-Gavaskar trophy with a 2-0 series triumph in Nagpur.

Paceman Ishant Sharma struck two early blows in the morning session, getting rid of Simon Katich (16) and Michael Clarke (22), while leg-spinner Mishra, who had run out Ricky Ponting for eight in the morning, returned to pick up the wickets of Michael Hussey (19), Brad Haddin (four) and Jason Krejza (four) as India condemned the Baggy Greens to their first series defeat since England's Ashes triumph in 2005.

Matthew Hayden struck a defiant 77, but was trapped lbw by his old rival Harbhajan, who also sent back Shane Watson (nine), Brett Lee (zero) and last man Mitchell Johnson (11).

The first and third Tests ended in draws, but with India winning the second Test in Mohali, the hosts only needed a draw in Nagpur to clinch the series.

Victory, though, was the perfect parting gift for former skipper Sourav Ganguly, who had announced he would retire at the end of this Test.

Australia faced a stiff target at the start of play, needing a further 369 for victory in three sessions.

Katich and Hayden resumed the chase in earnest and had looked to take the attack to India's bowlers in the morning.

India's new-ball bowler Zaheer Khan, who conceded 13 runs in his first over on Sunday evening, showed intensity and accuracy from the start, repeatedly beating Katich's edge in the first two overs.

Ishant was no less threatening but struggled to match Zaheer's consistency. Yet, he was more successful as he snared Katich when the left-handed batsman looked to cart him through the leg side.

Katich only managed an edge which went high in the air towards gully and Mahendra Singh Dhoni ran around to take the catch.

Ponting was off the mark with an edged boundary through the slips and showed more authority when he drove Zaheer for his second four.

The Australia skipper then pushed a ball from Zaheer to Mishra at mid-on and set off for a single only for Mishra to catch him well short of the crease with a direct hit.

An unwell Clarke came to the crease with the support of a runner and Ishant immediately saw a confident appeal for lbw turned down by umpire Billy Bowden.

Clarke was almost caught and bowled by Ishant off the third delivery he faced and twice edged Zaheer in the next over for boundaries to third man, both edges flying just wide of VVS Laxman at second slip.

Clarke added 45 for the third wicket with Hayden before Ishant broke through, sending Clarke back to the pavilion when the batsman edged straight to Dhoni.

Hayden was dropped on 26 by Dhoni as he attempted to cut Harbhajan in his first over and again on 35 by Rahul Dravid at slip as he attempted a reverse sweep.

Hayden attacked with vigour immediately after lunch, bringing up his half-century with a boundary through mid-on off part-time off-spinner Virender Sehwag and bludgeoning consecutive boundaries off Harbhajan.

Together with Hussey, Hayden put on 68 runs for the fourth wicket to set India back slightly.

Harbhajan, however, persevered and reaped rich rewards as he trapped Hayden in front as the left-hander attempted to work a delivery on the on-side.


Mishra had by then ended the fourth-wicket stand by sending back Hussey, turning it from the rough outside off-stump and inducing the edge which was held by Dravid.

Haddin's stay at the crease was brief and ended when he stepped down the track to cart Mishra over the top. He ended up hitting straight to Sachin Tendulkar who held his 100th catch in Test cricket.

Watson (nine) was Harbhajan's second wicket, snaffled by Dhoni as he attempted a cut shot and he had Lee caught by Murali Vijay at short leg as he lunged forward in defence.

Johnson was Harbhajan's final victim, given out leg before by umpire Aleem Dar to cue wild celebrations from the home contingent which was joined by former captain Anil Kumble, who retired after the third Test.