New Delhi, 6th march: The magical Spinners R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja created a attention grabbing spell as India mashed Australia by an innings and 135 runs in less than three and half days to win the second cricket Test and take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series in Hyderabad .
Ashwin grabbed five for 63 while Ravindra Jadeja took three for 33 as Australia displayed surprising lack of fighting spirit to be skittled out for a meagre 131 in 67 overs in their second innings.
The match lasted only two hours on the fourth day as it was an abject surrender by the Australian batsmen who had no answer to the questions posed by Ashwin and Jadeja on a turning track at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium.
The visitors needed 192 runs to avoid an innings defeat but they lost the final eight wickets in 35 overs with an addition of only 57 runs to their overnight total.
Cheteshwar Pujara was deservingly awarded the man-of-the-match award for his double hundred.It’s a well-documented fact that Australians can’t play spin bowling which was endorsed by Pujara but what was sad to see was their inability to even put up a fight. Such was the domination of the Indian spinners that Australia lost their last three wickets for an addition of only one run in 10 overs.
The imposing all-rounder managed only 9 and his form would be a massive headache for the Aussies as he is in the team only as a batsman.Australian captain Michael Clarke, who shoulders the bulk of scoring responsibility due to the team’s brittle line-up, announced his arrival at the crease with a six off Ravindra Jadeja. He came down the track to lift the left-arm spinner over long-off.
Clarke made 16 and with his departure, any chance of a gritty fight looked over as the skipper has been Australia’s best player of spin bowling.Boosted by the prized scalp of Clarke, Jadeja was spitting fire and it was a matter of time before he disposed off the challenge of Ed Cowan (44).
The left-handed opener had faced 150 deliveries but never looked like getting settled. Jadeja bowled a faster one and Cowan rocked on the back foot trying to play the square-cut.
Wade became Ashwin’s fourth victim and the ninth wicket to fall. The umpires then decided to extend the first session by 30 minutes as per norms to finish the proceedings.
The only worry will be Virender Sehwag’s continuous poor form as they decide on the squad for the last two Test matches.
Bureau Report
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