How we sent Oz down under

It is probably the first time an Indian team has so thoroughly dominated the Australians. Even Ponting acknowledged that after surrendering the Border-Gavaskar Trophy

NAGPUR: The Monday was manic. It brought to close five days of extraordinary cricket played by two sides in transition mode. India were fighting to be acknowledged as the best side in the world, and Australia clinging to the crown that has rightfully belonged to them over the last decade. In the end, India towered over the visitors, winning the fourth Test in Nagpur by 172 runs and with it clinching the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-0.

The target for the Australians on the last day was an improbable 369. They were never going to get there, that was almost sure. That they were going to make a match of it,
was surer.

As the Aussies got down to do the chasing in the morning, India picked up three quick wickets, but Matthew Hayden’s imposing form and wicked stroke play sent many heartbeats racing, for he looked determined to do the incredible. The opener kept Australia moving along at over 4 runs an over, and his partnership with Michael Hussey for the fourth wicket, seemed foreboding.

But India fought back harder. Amit Mishra picked up the wicket of Hussey, a dolly of a catch that Rahul Dravid managed to hold on to, having dropped a sitter earlier, breaking the 68-run stand.

Man of the series Ishant Sharma provided the breakthroughs in the morning session, picking up the wickets of Hussey and Michael Clarke, who walked in with a runner. Amit Mishra’s brilliant run out of Ricky Ponting meant there was going to be no chance of redemption for the Aussie skipper. Ponting was criticised on Sunday for letting India get off the hook by employing part-timers when he had them for 1666 at one stage.

The spinners dominated the proceedings in the afternoon session as Harbhajan Singh and Amit Mishra tightened the noose around the Australians, choking any last bit of resistance. They picked up the last seven wickets between them.

Earlier, Hayden was bludgeoning the bowling to all corners of the ground. Zaheer and Sharma were driven and cut, while the spinners lofted around the park. Fortune too was favouring his bravery. He was let off twice. Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni dropped him on 30 and then on 35 he again got a life when Rahul Dravid put down an easy catch. Big Hayden was finally done in by the guile of Harbhajan, who saw the Australian move towards the off stump and flighted the ball on the middle. Hayden was caught plumb in front and with him gone, Australia were down and out.

It is probably the first time an Indian team has so thoroughly dominated the Australians. Ponting acknowledged it. It was visible in Sourav Ganguly’s satisfied smile, in Harbhajan Singh’s roar and in Dhoni’s pump of the fists.