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Ind vs Aus, LIVE: India win a thriller at Mohali

by Mar 18, 2013

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1658 IST
Dhawan (Man-of-the-match): I would like to thank God, my family and those who sent their blessings for me. Well, I entered I was nervous. But once I got my rhythm, I just played my game. I wanted to stay at the wicket for as long as possible and make runs as quickly as I could. It’s a dream for me and I will cherish it for a long time.

1655 IST
Dhoni: In sport, I don’t think about revenge. The credit goes to the bowlers. Spinners had help but the pacemen also bowled very well. Inclusion of Jadeja really helped — it meant we were playing with 5 bowlers at all times, no part-timers. Shikhar, it was important for him to get a good start to his career and he did that. Bhuvneshwar set us up to win the match — his three wickets set up the win for us. They put us under pressure in the last 30 runs or so.

1652 IST
Clarke: I think we were outplayed again. We did really well to get over the 400 mark in the first innings. Once again the Indian batters showed us how to do things right. We definitely improved in this Test. At home in our backyard, we have been consistent. Away from home, we continue to work. It wasn’t about saving the Test, I told the boys we can still win the match. It didn’t happen that way.

1633 IST
India 136-4 in 33.3 overs; Dhoni 18, Jadeja 8
Jadeja opened the floodgates — two fours in the last over. And then Australia did the rest, they bowled at the batsmen when they could have easily bowled wide or bouncers. Sporting cricket but it’s not going to win them a lot of matches. Dhoni finished the match off with three consecutive fours.

Seriously, but India almost took this a bit too far. The man of the match has to be Shikhar Dhawan. His knock of 187 assumed even more importance now. He needed just 174 balls, laced with 33 fours and 2 sixes for his splendid match winning knock. It was Sehwagesque.

This is only the 2nd time since 1990 that Australia have lost three Tests in a series; also 2nd time since 2010.

1631 IST
India 117-4 in 31 overs;
S Tendulkar run out 21 (23b, 2×4)
Tendulkar is run out! He didn’t know where the ball was and was caught out of his crease by a direct hit. Big blow.

1625 IST
India 114-3 in 31 overs; Tendulkar 16, Dhoni 6
Second ball of the over was dispatched for four over the bowler’s head. Starc is bowling well. One bad ball and Tendulkar punished it. India need 17 to win. What a thriller!

1617 IST
India 111-3 in 31 overs; Tendulkar 16, Dhoni 6
This is madness and too close for comfort. Dhoni has 6 off 24 balls.

1617 IST
India 109-3 in 30 overs; Tendulkar 15, Dhoni 4
Sachin got a single off the first ball and Dhoni looking completely out of sorts. Can’t get bat on ball. This partnership

1613 IST
India 108-3 in 29 overs; Tendulkar 15, Dhoni 4
Starc bowling wide off the stumps now, almost 8th-9th stump. Not easy to play shots against that. This is too close for comfort. Not another last over finish. Please.

1609 IST
India 106-3 in 29 overs; Tendulkar 15, Dhoni 2
7 overs to go, and India need 27 runs to win this. Wow. One big over will do the trick for India.

1606 IST
India 105-3 in 28 overs; Tendulkar 15, Dhoni 1
India just might be leaving it a little too late here. Australia can start to bowl wide if they want too. It’s not an ODI or T20 right.

1559 IST
India 103-3 in 26.4 overs;
V Kohli c Hughes b Siddle 34 (61b, 6×4)
Kohli falls. Smart catch taken by Hughes and Kohli walking off… looking really angry. Dhoni is in next and if there ever was a man to finish a match, it’s the skipper.

1553 IST
India 103-2 in 26 overs; Kohli 34, Tendulkar 14
Slow and steady… the march to victory. This is like rubbing salt into Australia’s wounds.

1547 IST
India 92-2 in 24 overs; Kohli 24, Tendulkar 13
Why can’t we just finish this? One T20ish dash and bam! it’s over. But no, we must play this like Test cricket. Okay, rant over. Back to cricket, India playing slowly and steadily.

1538 IST
India 89-2 in 22 overs; Kohli 21, Tendulkar 11
Hayden was talking about how Australia needed to make it tough for India to score runs. But they just haven’t done that. Bowl wide off the stumps. Bowl into the legs. Nothing.

1531 IST
India 88-2 in 21 overs; Kohli 21, Tendulkar 11
And that’s drinks. 15 overs, 45 runs to win — that’s the equation for India. Tendulkar is looking to play a few shots… good on him. Kohli is looking solid too. India have this in their pocket.

1522 IST
India 80-2 in 20 overs; Kohli 21, Tendulkar 4
Another four in the over. Australia have leaked boundaries today. 14 fours in the innings already — that’s 56 runs and in a tight game that isn’t acceptable.

1516 IST
India 70-2 in 18.1 overs
C Pujara lbw b Lyon 28 (51b, 5×4)
Pujara has been trapped lbw, he was trying to pull the off-spinner with a straight bat. Probably got caught in two minds, and missed the ball completely. India need 63 to win and Sachin Tendulkar walks in.

1513 IST
India 66-1 in 17 overs; Pujara 28, Kohli 11
Lovely cover drive from Pujara got India the runs in the last over. India cruising at the moment. And Starc is having trouble with his line. Maybe he should stick to batting.

1506 IST
India 61-1 in 16 overs; Pujara 24, Kohli 10
Maiden from Doherty, who is now over the wicket, trying to pitch the ball in the rough.

1503 IST
India 61-1 in 15 overs; Pujara 24, Kohli 10
Pujara is looking increasingly at ease and that’s never a good thing for the opposition. A superbly struck four in the last over showed us just how good he is.

1500 IST
India 55-1 in 14 overs; Pujara 19, Kohli 9
Six runs in the last over, including a splendid four from Kohli, who is looking pretty good. Pujara is looking solid.

1457 IST
India 49-1 in 13 overs; Pujara 18, Kohli 4
As long as India don’t lose wickets in a rush they should be okay. In the T20 era, this should be winnable. Well, that’s what we believed when India shut shop in West Indies in 2011, right after we became World Champions.

1449 IST
India 48-1 in 12 overs; Pujara 17, Kohli 4
Kohli gets off the mark with a superb four and it’s a good over for India — five runs it is.

1445 IST
India 43-1 in 11 overs; Pujara 16, Kohli 0
Just one run off the over. Brilliant fielding by Warner ensured there were no more. Australia will really want to pick up their game if they want to draw this game.

1441 IST
India 42-1 in 10 overs; Pujara 15, Kohli 0
India need 91 to win with 9 wickets in hand
Doherty bowls out a maiden. He is getting a decent amount of spin. This is exciting stuff.

1438 IST
India 42-1 in 9.2 overs;
M Vijay st Haddin b Doherty 26 (33b, 5×4)
Vijay was out of his crease in a flash and then kept walking to the pavilion. He missed the ball completely and was stumped. He was looking pretty good. India need 91 to win now.

1434 IST
India 42-0 in 9 overs; Vijay 26, Pujara 15
Australia have a 6-3 off-on field and the bowlers are bowling on the legs. Sigh. But good for India, so we can’t really complain.

1427 IST
India 33-0 in 8 overs; Vijay 21, Pujara 11
100 runs needed to win.
And we are back for the final session. This should be fun. At what point, which India decide to go for the target? At what point will Australia go on the defensive. Pujara lucky to still be there, he was caught bat and pad at first slip. Replays showed clear inside edge.

1410 IST
India 30-0 in 7 overs; Vijay 19, Pujara 10
Pujara times a brilliant shot through the covers for four. The teams go in for tea and India need another 103 runs to win this match and take a 3-0 lead in the series.

1403 IST
India 26-0 in 6 overs; Vijay 19, Pujara 6
Starc has been gifting loose balls to Vijay who has been making the most of them. Another four for the opener. Another over to tea.

1357 IST
India 21-0 in 5 overs; Vijay 15, Pujara 6
Tea time will be taken at 1410 IST. After that Australia will probably bowl around 25 overs in the final session. They have to bowl at least 15 overs between 15:30 and the close of play.

1350 IST
India 20-0; Vijay 14, Pujara 6
Vijay has punished anything on his legs and Starc has been guilty of bowling down that line. Pujara has been steady. India have enough time on their hands… they should win this… they should at least aim to.

1330 IST
Aus 223 all out;
M Starc c Ashwin b Jadeja 35 (100b, 2×4)
And Starc is finally out. India have to make 133 to win and they will have a minimum of 27-28 overs to do so.

1321 IST
Aus 223-9; Starc 35, Doherty 18
The lead is up to 132 runs. Australia’s tailenders are making India look silly. Well, Dhoni’s field is pretty silly too — he has been putting fielders on the boundary line. Complete lack of vision. Is this what Fletcher brings to the team?

1314 IST
Aus 211-9; Starc 27, Doherty 14
India’s field settings have been strange. Ishant bowling with the new ball and there is no short leg or silly point. And even with Ashwin bowling, just three close-in fielders. Some more pressure please. This is frustrating. Time for everyone to change their sitting positions. Let’s un-jinx this if we can. The last wicket fell at 179.

1307 IST
Aus 211-9; Starc 27, Doherty 14
The lead is up to 120 runs and drinks have been called. Wow. On twitter, @sidvee says Dhoni’s hand must be itching to offer a draw.

 

1251 IST
Aus 192-9; Starc 19, Doherty 4
Sachin has had a bowl. Still no bowling for Bhuvneshwar. Saving him for the new ball are we?

1234 IST
Aus 192-9; Starc 19, Doherty 4
The consensus in office is that Clarke will declare with two over left to tea. The lead is now up to 101 runs and Starc is batting like a king.

1215 IST
Aus 179-9;
B Haddin lbw b Ashwin 30 (72b, 5×4)
Ashwin’s carrom ball gets Haddin. He was fooled completely and was completely on the back foot. Big wicket for India. These guys were set for a bit. Australia lead by 88 runs with 1 wicket in hand.

1211 IST
Aus 178-8; Haddin 30, Starc 10
Meanwhile, Watson’s burning with ambition Down Under. Here’s what he had to say:

“I’ve a burning ambition to be an Australian Test player for as long as I can be and help Australia win those big Test Series’ as well as the big ICC Tournaments,” said Watson, who is all set to fly to India.

Read the full story HERE

1210 IST
Aus 170-8; Haddin 23, Starc 9
What tactics will be see from Dhoni? No Bhuvneshwar since morning.

1205 IST
Aus 170-8; Haddin 23, Starc 9
And we are back. Australia lead by 79 runs. Ashwin takes the ball. Australia haven’t lost a wicket in 72 balls. And that’s quite a lot by their recent standards.

1130 IST
Aus 170-8; Haddin 23, Starc 9
And that’s lunch. Australia have survived but the problem is that they are just 79 runs ahead. In the morning session, 46 overs were bowled, 95 runs scored and 5 wickets fell.

Read Tariq Engineer’s report of the first session: Jadeja, Ojha and Dar got India the wickets.

And here’s some more interesting stuff for the break: Pat Rafter has topped the list of the most popular Australian athletes in the latest Sweeney Sports and Entertainment Report. Six of the top 10 – including Glenn McGrath at No.2, Cathy Freeman at No.3 and Steve Waugh at No.6 – no longer competing professionally.

The top 10 most popular Australian athletes:

1. Pat Rafter
2. Glenn McGrath
3. Cathy Freeman
4. Ricky Ponting
5. Ian Thorpe
6. Steve Waugh
7. Casey Stoner
8. Leisel Jones
9. Michael Clarke
10. Cadel Evans

1124 IST
Aus 170-8; Haddin 23, Starc 9
The Aussies are still stuck on the Ashes. They should be worried about it. They might not be in a state to play the Ashes after this tour. A very nice blog talks about how Australia need Chris Rogers for the Ashes… truth is they need him now.

Read the piece on Chris Rogers HERE.

1120 IST
Aus 167-8; Haddin 21, Starc 8
And while we wait for another wicket to fall… have a look at Ravindra Jadeja’s messed up Wiki page. Some vandals got to it… it seems.

It is hilarious.

1118 IST
Aus 167-8; Haddin 21, Starc 8
Another 12 minutes to go to lunch. Australia just might make it, it didn’t look likely at one point.

1110 IST
Aus 163-8; Haddin 17, Starc 8
More news from the India camp. Dhawan has been advised not to bat after he injured his hand while fielding yesterday. On the other hand, Australia’s batsmen need to start watching Starc’s batting in the nets. He is just looking so much in control. Well, hope we can jinx him. Australia lead by 72 runs with 2 wickets remaining.

1104 IST
Aus 160-8; Haddin 16, Starc 6
The lead is up 69 runs. Still no Bhuvneshwar. It’s incredible but true, India’s best bowler on day 4 hasn’t got an over today. Ishant is just in for his second spell of the day.

Then again: How was this Australian team ranked third in the world? Are cricket’s standards really falling or what…

1051 IST
Aus 149-8;
By the way, have you all heard… Shane Watson is coming to Australia’s rescue… not here but in Delhi. Hopefully, he has done his homework done this time round.

You can read the article here: Shane Watson to return to India, may captain Aus in fourth test

And talking about collapses, Australia were 89-3 before the current collapse started.

1042 IST
Aus 143-8;
P Siddle b Ojha 13 (13b, 1×4, 1×6)
A six from Siddle pushed the lead to 52 but then Ojha’s natural angle helps the left-arm spinner knock back the right-hander’s off-stump. Just enough turn to beat the bat. Guess it’s down to Haddin and Starc now. More heroics?

 

1039 IST
Aus 137-7; Haddin 5, Siddle 7
Slightly surprising to see Starc not being pushed up the order. He did get a 99 in the first innings. The tactics have been strange.

1032 IST
Aus 127-7;
M Henriques c & b Jadeja 2 (10b)
Another wicket and here we go. Great caught and bowled by Jadeja, moved quickly to his left and got both hands to the ball. This will be over by tea. Australia’s lead is just 35 runs.

1024 IST
Aus 123-6;
P Hughes lbw b Ashwin 69 (147b, 11×4, 1×6)
WICKET! Terrible decision though. Easily missing the leg-stump. Was the umpire sleeping there? And Aleem Dar even gave it quickly. Hughes is gone after making 69, Ashwin was the bowler. Such decisions kill the game.

Whats the world coming to… players appeal for everything and umpires give everything out. Hughes was so far outside the leg-stump that when he turned around, he could see all three stumps.

 

1012 IST
Aus 119-5;
M Clarke c Pujara b Jadeja 18 (49b, 3×4)
Out! Clarke walking back, Jadeja has got him for the fifth time in the series. Bat, pad and gone… caught at Short leg by Pujara. Lots of bat on this one, big blow for the Aussies. Backs to the wall time.

Replays show that perhaps just Jadeja’s pant was behind the line. Not the shoe. Does that count?

 

 

1006 IST
Aus 117-4; Hughes 63, Clarke 18

Maiden overs being bowled. But Australia are looking solid at the moment. Going off a slightly different tangent, just wondering why Tendulkar isn’t in the slips? He’s done it before and he will certainly be better than Kohli and Ashwin.

0958 IST
Aus 117-4; Hughes 63, Clarke 18

Nothing much seems to be happening. But as we’ve already seen in this series, it takes one wicket to start a collapse. Australia are ahead by 26 runs now. Meanwhile, Bhuvneshwar Kumar hasn’t bowled an over today. He claimed three wickets yesterday and not an over today. Even Ishant got a bowl.

0951 IST
Aus 113-4; Hughes 63, Clarke 13

Hughes has been ridiculed all series but he is looking like a different player today. His decision to attack last night has freed his mind of some demons at least. India are also probably looking at him in a new light. Clarke is looking very good, he will need to.. for Australia to put up a fight.

0940 IST
Aus 107-4; Hughes 60, Clarke 11

The challenge for Australia is to bat to tea. If they can do that, then India won’t quite get the easy victory that they were hoping for. Of course, it all comes down to the way India batted in the first session on day four.

0934 IST
Aus 101-4; Hughes 56, Clarke 9

Bad back and all, Clarke is in there in the middle and Australia have wiped out the deficit. Leading by 10 runs now. Clarke can probably turn to VVS for advice on how to play with a bad back in Mohali.

For those who came in late: India, chasing 216 against Australia at Mohali, in Oct 2010, looked down and out at 124 for eight. Then Laxman (73*), in severe pain because of back spasms, and Ishant Sharma took India to a remarkable win.

0920 IST
Aus 89-4;
N Lyon c Dhoni b Ojha 18 (48b, 3×4)

WICKET. Ojha gets Lyon, edged to Dhoni. Turn and the tailender had no answer. Lyon had the lion’s share of the strike all morning. Lyon was dropped by Kohli a few balls back. Clarke is in next.

0909 IST
Aus 81-3; Hughes 53, Lyon 10

For India, Dhawan is off the field. He injured his hand while fielding yesterday. Rahane is on the field instead.

0903 IST
Aus 81-3; Hughes 53, Lyon 10

Lyon has spent enough time in the middle this series — in fact, probably a lot more than Lyon. But this stand is vital for Australia. Having a tailender in the middle will frustrate India’s bowlers a lot. Still no Bhuvneshwar. How strange…

0900 IST

Play has begun. Ishant Sharma to bowl the first over. No Bhuvneshwar?

0854 IST

Play is about to begin on the final day of the Mohali Test. Can Australia work a miracle or will India finish them off in quick time? Phil Hughes and Nathan Lyon stride to the crease with Australia 3-75, still trailing by 16 runs.

 

0842 IST

Seeking to save the third Test match, Australia’s miseries have been compounded by a back injury to skipper Michael Clarke, which has raised a question mark over his batting position going into the final day’s play of the third cricket Test.

Cricket Australia (CA) media manager Matt Cenin had said on Sunday the batsman will undergo treatment overnight and then the physiotherapist Alex Kountouris will assess his condition.

Bhuvneshwar was superb for India in the second innings on Day 4. PTI

Bhuvneshwar was superb for India in the second innings on Day 4. PTI

Day 4

Murali Vijay (153) cracked his second successive century before young paceman Bhuvneshwar Kumar quickly snapped up three Australian wickets to raise hopes of an Indian victory in the third cricket Test which
seemed headed for an exciting finish.

After conceding a 91-run first innings lead, the visitors were struggling at 75 for three at stumps, on the penultimate day with Bhuvneshwar producing a brilliant spell to remove openers David Warner (2), Ed Cowan (8) and Steven Smith (5), who was promoted ahead of injured captain Michael Clarke.

At stumps, Phillip Hughes (53 batting) is fighting hard in company of nightwatchman Nathan Lyon (4).

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