Australia crushed India by an innings and 68 runs in the second Test in Sydney to take a 2-0 lead in the series and leave Sachin Tendulkar still waiting for his 100th international ton.
The home side's big breakthrough came when Tendulkar was dismissed for 80 by man-of-the-match Michael Clarke, precipitating a collapse as India saw their chance of winning a maiden series in Australia slip away. Clarke, who became only the sixth Australian to score a Test triple century, capped a splendid all-round performance when he coaxed an edge off Tendulkar to Michael Hussey at slip after an innings lasting 141 balls.
Tendulkar's dismissal triggered a clatter of wickets with VVS Laxman (66), MS Dhoni (two) and Virat Kohli (nine) following in the next seven overs to expose the tailend to the Australian bowlers and inevitable defeat. Ravi Ashwin was the last man out, caught in the deep by Nathan Lyon for 62 to give Ben Hilfenhaus five wickets as India were all out for 400 in their second-innings.
Clarke pleased with win at home
"It's the first series [when] I've been full-time captain in Australia in front of my home fans and the Australian public, so it's important I stand up," said Clarke. "I didn't have a great summer [Ashes series] last year, so I'm really happy that I was able to contribute and put in a really good performance.
"I think our execution was very good. I thought the way we bowled in the first innings set the Test match up for us. To be able to take 10 wickets on a really flat wicket out there ... they deserve a lot of credit."
Dhoni looks to win remaining Tests
Meanwhile, the defiant India captain said his team were looking to level the series with matches remaining in Perth and Adelaide.
"We have lost the chance of winning the series but still with two more to go we can level the series so that's what we're looking to do," he said. "Here, we didn't put enough runs on the board. To win Test matches, of course taking 20 wickets is very important. But we need to give that cushion, having those extra runs on the board so that the bowlers can plan the opposition out."
Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2012.
COMMENTS (7)
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India will win the match...
@Raam: dont forget mumbai is the headoffice of all the world fixers.
"Indian batsmen are like faithful husbands, they perform only at home" Poonam Pandey
@Raam: May be you are not smart enough to be caught. Oh wait, azaruddin and jadeja were from India ?
Whatever you say pak people.at least we don't sell our cricket to match fixers
The title made me crack up.. lol..
India is what it is. An over rated team at home.