Very Very Stubborn Laxman nails down Aussies in a thrilling encounter



Indian players celebrating
at the ground moments
after winning



What a nail biting finish, no one would have ever scripted this match so single-handedly. The heroics of today and the match belonged to two cricketers who are down with injuries right from day 1 of the Test match and yet they shared a 9th wicket partnership of 81 runs that ultimately sealed the game towards India. In one of the most memorable finishes in recent history, aas accepted by both Ponting and Dhoni in the post match presentation, it was left to Pragyan Ojha who picked up two leg-byes off Mitchell Johnson to seal the result, which until that delivery could also have been a tie or an Australian win.



Very Very Stuborn
Laxman simply did not
relent



Everybody felt that Sachin stood between victory and Aussies but that was not to be. The turn was for Laxman, who overcame his sore back to become the hero of a nail-biting one-wicket victory for India, who retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in dramatic fashion in Mohali. Batting with a runner because of a stiff back, Laxman was well supported by tail-ender Ishant Sharma, who made a defiant 31 in an 81-run stand for the ninth wicket before being trapped leg-before by Ben Hilfenhaus (4-57).

Australia's last chance of winning the match came when left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson began his 17th over to last-man Pragyan Ojha, with India requiring six runs to win.Ojha survived a confident appeal for leg-before and then an overthrow for four runs by substitute fielder Steven Smith considerably eased the pressure on India. The match ended with two leg-byes.

India were under tremendous pressure after losing their eighth wicket at 124. India needed 92 runs to win with just 2 wickets in hand and everyone had thought the match was firmly in Australia's grasp - The pair had other ideas - both grounded Australia down and left a dejected Ricky Ponting still winless as a Test captain in India. The visitors' hopes were raised again when Ben Hilfenhaus (4 for 57) trapped Ishant lbw - although the ball would have missed leg stump - with 11 runs needed. But by then Laxman and Sharma held their nerve to sink Australia's hopes.



Contrasting Expressions -
Says it all



In the morning, Ponting did a grave mistake of starting to bowl with Hauritz at one end, by resting Johnson. Hauritz did enjoy success in the seventh over when spinner Nathan Hauritz had nightwatchman Zaheer Khan (10) caught by Michael Clarke at first slip.

 

In 2008 Ponting was over-defensive, failing to push for wickets and grab opportunities when they arose. This time Ponting didn't do much wrong; Laxman was just too good. The assertive and agressive India were too much for Aussies and Indians have given back their own medicine back. And Australia under Ponting simply haven't been able to close out a victory in India. To top it all, if India draws the second test, Aussies take on England with a lower ranking for England - Tough times ahead for Aussies and in particular Ponting.