Related Links : Australia in India 2008/09 | 2nd Test Scorecard
Australia surrendered meekly on the final day of the Mohali Test to hand over a record 320-run victory for India. Three of the five wickets they had going into the final day’s play had fallen down in the space of 10 deliveries! Zaheer Khan picked up those three wickets while debutant Amit Mishra took the last two wickets as India rapped up the match within lunch.
The visitors started the day’s play with Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin. And in the first over itself they lost Haddin, who was cleaned up by an incoming delivery from Zaheer. Haddin (37 from 105 balls with 6 fours) instead of coming forward to negate the swing, decided to stay back and paid the penalty. In his next over, Zaheer bowled a juicy delivery outside off to induce a false drive from Cameron White to result in an outside edge to the keeper. The next man was Brett Lee who was cleaned up just like Haddin on the backfoot with the only difference being that this one swung away.
Zaheer was on a hat-trick after the wickets of White and Lee but he and the other bowlers were defied by some excellent batting display by no.10 Mitchell Johnson. Michael Clarke kept his end intact, as he should being a world class batsman and Johnson surprised with his elegant strokeplay. It was Amit Mishra, who made the difference towards the end with the very first ball of a new spell. The Haryana leggie bowled a flighted and disguised googly which tempted Johnson (26 from 44 balls with 4 fours) to work it to the onside. The result was a simple return catch to the leg spinner, who went onto end the match by getting Clarke pulling one into the hands of short mid wicket.
Michael Clarke top scored in the Australian second innings with 69 (from 152 balls with 9 fours) which would be one positive that the visitors would be carrying for the rest of the series. Australia were bowled out in just 64.4 overs for 195 which gave a huge win for the homeside. India Skipper MS Dhoni was named as the Man of the Match. The two teams take a long Diwali break before clashing for the third test which is to be played at Delhi from the 29th.