Indian tailenders steal unlikely victory

MUMBAI—An undefeated 52-run stand for the ninth wicket between Zaheer Khan and Murali Kartik helped India sneak to an unlikely two-wicket win in Mumbai. Australia still sealed the series 4-2, but the result meant India had at least reduced the margin of defeat, something that looked almost impossible when India had slumped to 64 for 6. It was also India’s first ODI victory chasing against Australia since April 1998.
If the afternoon had been about left-arm spin, it was all Australian pace under lights. In conditions where the bat didn’t dominate as it had in previous games, India were swiftly plunged into disarray, and facing the prospect of a 5-1 series defeat. Australia’s new-ball attack - Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson - swung the ball at high speeds approaching 150 kmph and began India’s slide to 94 for 6 at the half-way stage.
Even though the target of 194 wasn’t an imposing one, it was imperative that India got a solid start. They didn’t, with Johnson inducing diffident edges from both Sourav Ganguly and Dinesh Karthik. Sachin Tendulkar, probably playing his final game at the Wankhede, sparkled briefly, with two glorious cuts for four off Johnson, but the moment he played on against Lee, the writing was clearly legible on the wall.
Lee bowled at fearsome pace but, if anything, India’s plight only worsened with the introduction of Nathan Bracken’s medium pace. Showing superb control of swing and seam, Bracken had Yuvraj Singh edging behind before slanting one away from Mahendra Singh Dhoni to get the same result.
When Pathan edged to slip off James Hopes - there was no weak link for the Indians to exploit anywhere - thoughts of victory receded into the distance and the cheers as Uthappa spanked two huge sixes rang as India’s only claims to batting greatness. At one stage, with the scoreboard showing 64 for 6, even three figures looked unlikely, but Uthappa found an ally in Harbhajan Singh as the relentless Australian march to victory was slowed down.
The last time Murali Kartik played an international game in Mumbai, he was instrumental in India defending a paltry target of 107 in a dead-rubber, dismissing Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn in the same over. The man who captained India to that improbable win, Rahul Dravid, may have been missing today but Kartik was again to the fore as India fought to stave off the embarrassment of a 5-1 series defeat. Ponting was a thorn in their side, with an accomplished half-century, but Kartik’s stunning six-wicket haul induced an almighty wobble that ended in Australia being bowled out for 193 in 41.3 overs.
Kartik was on a hat-trick twice and the key moments undoubtedly came in the passage of play when Brad Hodge and Andrew Symonds were dismissed off successive deliveries. Symonds, the outstanding player of the series, came to the crease accompanied by a chorus of boos, and many more jeers and whistles followed him back after he cut a delivery to Sachin Tendulkar at short cover. The previous ball had seen Hodge’s Indian nightmare continue, with Kartik angling one across to take the edge to slip.
It was respite that India needed after they had squandered the perfect start. Michael Clarke was plumb first ball, but though Zaheer Khan did little wrong, RP Singh started woefully at the other end, conceding four wides in his opening over.—Agencies
Adam Gilchrist struggled as the ball moved around, but Ponting was ruthless on the slightest bowling transgressions, driving, flicking off the pads and cutting with precision. India’s plight worsened when Zaheer was denied a second wicket as Gilchrist, on 2, edged one toward the slips. Robin Uthappa got his fingertips to it, but couldn’t wrap them around the ball.
After a sedate start by his standards, Gilchrist appeared to be finding some touch with two fours in Irfan Pathan’s opening over but when he subsequently slashed at one, Harbhajan Singh took a running catch at third man.
With pace not doing the trick, and Sourav Ganguly’s mixed bag not helping, Mahendra Singh Dhoni turned to his spinners. And once again, it was the forgotten man of Indian cricket that highlighted his credentials.
The otherwise wayward RP Singh also played his part with the crucial wicket of Ponting, coming round the wicket to induce an edge. Ponting had made 57 and was assured in conditions where the bat was nowhere near as dominant as it had been in earlier games.
If Kartik’s first double-whammy put India in charge, the second killed off Australian hopes of a large total. Brad Haddin, dropped moments earlier by Zaheer at deep midwicket, was trapped in front by the arm ball before Brad Hogg and Brett Lee fell to the fourth and fifth balls of the over. Hogg was dubiously given out, caught at forward short leg, while Lee edged one to RP Singh at short gully.
By the time he ended a 22-run cameo from James Hopes, Kartik had the best figures by an Indian against Australia. Only a late burst from Mitchell Johnson pushed Australia closer to 200 but, with this likely to be Sachin Tendulkar’s final match at the Wankhede, the Indians were undoubtedly hoping that it would be nowhere near enough. Against Australia, even a consolation win is something.
Summarized Scores: India 195 for 8 (Uthappa 47) beat Australia 193 (Ponting 57, Kartik 6-27) by 2 wickets.