Related Links : India’s Tour of Australia 2007/08 : Scorecard
Ruthless Aussies and a feeble Indian batting wasted no time in ending the MCG Test under four days. India for the second time couldn’t even get past the 200-run mark which saw them go down by a huge defeat of 337 runs. Aussies have now have picked up a 15th consecutive test victory and are one victory away from equaling the previous record of 16 consecutive victories under Steve Waugh between 1999 and 2001.
Yesterday’s overnight batsmen, the two opening batsmen – Wasim Jaffer and Rahul Dravid were both sent back to the pavilion in the morning session. Jaffer, who was out to a no ball off a short delivery from Lee at the start of the day’s play couldn’t take advantage of the life as he paid penalty for a loose shot outside off stump. Brett Lee took his wicket for the second time ending a 40-ball stay for the opener. Rahul Dravid, like in the first innings, blocked and blocked without any interest in moving the scoreboard. The Wall got past a century but that was only in terms of balls that he had faced. A few seconds before the Tea Break, Symonds bowled a ripping off break that beat Dravid’s bat to have him plumb in front. Dravid’s crawling innings of 16 from 114 balls came to an end with that and at lunch, Australia were sitting pretty having made the inroads.
The post lunch session promised a fighting knock from Sachin Tendulkar. He had VVS Laxman at the other end. However, Tendulkar wasn’t allowed to stick in the middle for a long time thanks to a superb spell from Brett Lee. A bad shot to a good outswinger saw the back of Tendulkar, who batted for just about 30 minutes scoring 15. India were 77 for 3 now. They got a tiny partnership going between Laxman and Ganguly. At this stage of innings, Stuart Clark was making good use of the slow pitch by mixing up his cutters along with reverse swing. Interestingly, Clark was even having Gilchrist standing upto the stumps whenever Ganguly was at the strike. It was Laxman though who fell to the persistence of Stuart Clark as he drove one early and into the hands of the man at covers. Laxman made 42 with six fours in 112 balls. His wicket meant that all the batsmen capable of playing the long and patient innings were back in the pavilion for India.
Yuvraj and Dhoni just managed to avoid their pairs but they couldn’t stay at the wicket for long enough. While Yuvraj (5 from 10 balls) fell before Tea getting late on a flipper from Hogg, Dhoni (11 from 32 balls) was caught behind attempting a flamboyant shot away from his body off Mitchell Johnson after the break. At 144 for 6, it was match almost over. Ganguly was left with playing only for his average as all the main batsmen were gone and the inevitable was fast approaching. Ganguly saw another two wickets fall down quickly in the form of Kumble and Harbhajan. Things were now happening so quickly after Tea and Ganguly too was dismissed without much trouble. He was yet again outsmarted by Hogg’s variations. The left hander who was also plumb in front to a skidder was given as caught at bat pad. Ganguly made 40 with 5 fours from 78 balls.
When RP Singh had played onto his stumps off Mitchell Johnson in the 74th over, the match came to a quick finish with India bowled out for 161. Australia picked up five wickets in just over 12 overs in the final session to wrap up the match. The wickets were shared by all the five bowlers that were used. The Man of the Match went to Matthew Hayden who was top scorer of the match with his first innings 124. The second test match begins on the 2nd of January next year at Sydney.