As the Test progressed, Australia appeared to have carried on from where they had left in the first Test and put up a challenging total of 445 despite Harbhajan Singh registering India's first ever Test hat-trick. In reply, India were bundled out for a paltry 171 and asked to follow on by Steve Waugh. Still 274 behind, India were losing early wickets with the well-set VVS Laxman holding fort at one end.
After Ganguly's departure, Rahul Dravid joined Laxman and what followed was a mammoth partnership of such magnitude that it changed the cricketing fortunes of this country. They just went on and on and the 376-run partnership helped India put together an overwhelming 657/7 declared.
Pursuing a challenging target of 384 runs of a minimum 75 overs, Australia were 161 for 3 at tea on the final day. Post tea, Australian wickets started falling in a heap with Harbhajan Singh (6/73) and Tendulkar (3/31) knocking the stuffing out of the visiting side. All out for 212, Australia's 16 match winning streak came to an end in a 171 run loss.
No comments:
Post a Comment