Related Links : Australia in India 2008/09 | 2nd Test Scorecard
The great Australian ship sunk quickly on the afternoon of the fourth day’s play of the Mohali Test leaving India just five wickets away from going 1-0 up. Australia set off in a hurry chasing an improbable 516 and in the process dug a deep hole for themselves for their rashness. The Indian bowlers smartly took advantage of that and made a mockery of the Australian batsmen on what was still a wonderful wicket to bat on.
India had earlier made 314 for 3 before declaring an hour after the post lunch session. Opener Gautam Gambhir scored his 2nd Test hundred, to be precise 104 (from 138 balls with 7 fours and a six) and birthday boy Virender Sehwag had to settle for 90 (from 122 balls with 8 fours). The openers who had already put on 100 runs on the board yesterday took it further to 182 which meant that the pair alone batted the Australians out of the game. Skipper MS Dhoni, who promoted himself at no.3 scored a brisk unbeaten 68 from 84 with 3 fours and a six. India took just 65 overs to make those runs and gave itself an opportunity of bowling about 136 overs to bowl out the Aussies.
Australia had a funny approach to the situation. Rather than going out for a safer and sensible approach, their openers, in particular Matty Hayden went for the kill as if his team had to chase 516 in 50 overs! The first ball the big man, who was on a pair was facing, was a good length delivery which should have been defended but the left hander went for an outrageous lofted shot which barely cleared mid off! Hayden continued to belt the ball and he did succeed in finding the odd boundaries but it was clear that it was just matter of one breakthrough for the Indians. Zaheer Khan was blasted out of the attack by Hayden but that only brought in the Turbanator a lot earlier. A foolish sweep shot ended Hayden’s stay as it was Harbhajan’s arm ball that got the better of the forceful and predetermined shot.
Hayden’s adventures lasted only till the 8th over and he was sent off by Zaheer Khan in a provocative manner near the boundary. Hayden made 29 from 20 balls with 4 fours, which was the fourth consecutive failure for the run machine in this series! Unfortunately, Hayden’s batting style rubbed off on an otherwise resolute Simon Katich which resulted in the second wicket loss for the Aussies. In the same over, infact the final delivery of the 8th over, Katich (20 from 26 with 4 fours) went for a cover drive to one that wasn’t there to be driven at all to pay the price. Sachin Tendulkar pulled off a brilliant forward diving catch at point and Harbhajan had got rid of both the openers by Tea.
Australia were rocked back by the twin strike and after Tea lost their best player in this tour – Mike Hussey as well to make it 52 for 3 in just the 10th over! Hussey (1) also played a rubbish shot to cause his own downfall. He went back for an attacking pull shot without actually picking the right length in a Harbhajan Singh quicker one that got him out lbw. It was just the fourth delivery that he was facing as well which proves how terrible Hussey’s shot selection was. A couple of balls later, tall Ishant Sharma joined the party by cleaning up Ponting’s forward defence with a big indipper and a few overs later caught Shane Watson plumb infront with another devastating delivery. Australia were in shambles at 58 for 5 in the 17th over!
The world champs were in an embarrassing situation of getting bowled out on this fourth day itself. Fortunately for them Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin saved them from that and helped them to delay the inevitable to another day. At stumps, the Aussies got to 141 for 5 in 46 overs with Clarke on 42 and Haddin on 37. The Aussies would need to hope for a miracle if they have to survive for a draw on the final day!