Australia crushed India by 217 runs in the first Test at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore on Sunday to take a 1-0 lead in the four-Test series.
India, who resumed the day on 105 for six, were bowled out for 239 in their second innings.
Fast bowler Jason Gillespie sealed Australia's victory when he had Harbhajan Singh caught at square leg after lunch. Gillespie, who finished with three for 33, took both wickets with the new ball after the break.
Irfan Pathan and Harbhajan delayed Australia's victory push with a record 89-run partnership for the ninth wicket.
Pathan hit a career-best 55 while Harbhajan scored 42 to defy the Australian bowlers, particularly leg spinner Shane Warne.
Morning session:
Pride is one thing India's young stars do not lack.
Even though India's last specialist batsman, Rahul Dravid, was dismissed early on the fifth morning, the resistance shown by Irfan Pathan warmed the cockles of the heart.
Dravid (60) reached his 33rd half century before being trapped leg-before the wicket by Michael Kasprowicz. For a very brief moment the only sounds one could hear in the Chinnaswamy stadium were those of the Australian fielders.
Victory was only a matter of time for the Australians and when Kumble fell to Kasprowicz after adding just two runs to the total, India were down and out; their confidence at an all-time low.
But no one suspected what was to come.
In a breathtaking display of aggressive batting, Pathan took on Shane Warne and came out on top. A wicket would fall sooner than later, but Pathan's guts meant that the India had salvaged something from this match.
Pathan is considered by many as the most talented seamer to emerge from India since Kapil Dev. Now, I think we can also say, with valid reason, he is the most talented all-rounder to emerge from India since Kapil.
Three sixes off Warne, two by Pathan and one by Harbhajan, showed that the pitch had no demons. For the Aussies, it was an embarrassing time. They were being literally taken apart by two tail-enders.
| |||||||||||
Pathan, looking increasingly assured against pace and spin, smashed Warne for three fours in the 76th over and brought up his first fifty in Test match cricket. His previous highest, 49, had come in the second Test against Pakistan at Lahore.
This was starting to look like a massacre. Warne's figures now read 32 overs, 8 maidens, 115 runs, 2 wicket. Both those wickets came on Day 4. Gilchrist took him out of the attack just before lunch.
72 runs were scored for the ninth wicket, with Pathan on 51 and Harbhajan on 26. It was certainly thrilling stuff. At lunch, India were 178 for 9.
Post-lunch session:
The match did not last long after lunch. The Aussies took the new ball as soon as it was available, in the 80th over. And, 7.4 overs later, the Indian innings was wrapped up. Australia cruised to a comfortable victory.
But before that Pathan and Harbhajan broke the record for the ninth-wicket partnership that was held by Sachin Tendulkar and Kiran More. The duo had put on 81 runs against the Australians at Perth in 1991/92.
Eventually, Pathan edged one from Gillespie that angled across him to Gilchrist, who made no mistake. The left-hander scored 55 off 141 balls, including eight boundaries and two sixes. The partnership for the ninth wicket was worth 89 runs. (214 for 9)
Zaheer Khan walked in next and along with Harbhajan continued to punish the Australian attack. It was inevitable that a wicket would fall, and that happened. A short delivery from Gillespie tempted Harbhajan to go for the hook even though there was a fielder, McGrath, at fine leg. (239 all out)
The duo put on 25 runs in 4.1 overs. Harbhajan scored 42 runs in 67 balls, with seven boundaries and one six off Darren Lehmann's bowling.
The Indians went out in a blaze of glory. Perhaps, the biggest compliment you can give the lower order was that they truly believed in their hearts that the match was not over.
The top order certainly disappointed. Pathan, Harbhajan, and Parthiv Patel, in the first innings, showed how runs can be got. Now, it is up to the seniors in the side to come up with a fitting reply in the second Test, which starts in Chennai on October 14.
