Zaheer Khan made short work of the Australian tail as India secured a 320-run victory in the second Test of the series.

Left-arm paceman Zaheer claimed three wickets in his first two overs as Australia crashed from 141 for five overnight to 144 for eight.

Leg-spinner Amit Mishra completed the rout by picking up the last two wickets as Australia, chasing a target of 516 for an improbable win, were eventually bowled out for 195.

Zaheer ended a blossoming partnership between Brad Haddin and Michael Clarke by bowling Haddin with the last ball of his first over.

Just one run was added to their sixth wicket stand, already worth 83 overnight, when Haddin was bowled by one which came back slightly off the pitch.

Haddin failed to add to his overnight score of 37.

Zaheer struck twice again off consecutive deliveries in his second over, first removing Cameron White (one) and then Brett Lee (zero).

White traded flash for prudence, slashing at an away going delivery and only edging to wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Lee was done in by one which moved slightly off the seam, knocking back off stump as the tailender shaped to defend.

"Especially at one time in the first innings, they [Australia] were 22 from 13 overs. I said to Rahul [Dravid], 'Look at the board, we won't see that again'"

Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Mitchell Johnson saved the hat-trick by playing forward and defending solidly.

He briefly held up India's charge, putting on 50 runs with Clarke for the ninth wicket and in the process showing runs could still be had from the fifth day's pitch.

He struck four boundaries in his 26 before offering a simple return catch to leg spinner Amit Mishra.

Clarke, meanwhile, reached his ninth half-century, getting past the mark by scampering through for a couple of runs courtesy of a mis-field in the covers.

He was the last man out attempting to pull Mishra through midwicket where Sehwag pulled off a smart catch to bring up India's biggest victory over the World Champions in terms of runs.

Is this THE BEGINNING OF THE END of the Ausies dominance in cricket?

6:29 AM
Categories: Cricket. Author: SacHu