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Tendulkar helps India win 2nd Test, clinch series
Led by Sachin Tendulkar's double ton in the first innings and a half century in the second, India comprehensively beat Australia in the second Test in Bangalore.
Chasing 207 to win, the home team easily got to the target and won by seven wickets.
This victory saw India complete a series whitewash over Australia for the first time.
This is also India's first win in five attempts over Australia at the Chinnaswamy stadium, in 15 years. The home team had hitherto lost two and drawn two of their previous four matches against the team from Down Under..
India quickly wrap up Aus tail
Resuming the day on 202 for seven, the Aussies started cautiously, as Mitchell Johnson (11) and Nathan Hauritz (21 not out) put on 32 runs for the eighth wicket.
But Zaheer Khan struck in his fourth over; he bowled a ripper of a delivery to uproot Johson's stumps.
They didn't have to wait long for the second, Sreesanth rattling Ben Hilfenhaus' (0) stumps in the very next over.
And Zaheer soon had Peter George (0) caught behind to end the Australian innings.
The left-arm seamer was India's best bowler with figures of three for 41, his analysis on the fifth day making for impressive reading: 5.2-1-9-2.
India lose Sehwag early
Murali Vijay started the Indian second essay on a positive note, steering the first ball (off Hilfenhaus) wide of gully for the first boundary of the innings.
Later, Virender Sehwag was dropped by Michael Hussey off Peter George.
However, Sehwag's stay at the crease was cut short by Ben Hilfenhaus. The Indian opener edged one to the keeper to give Australia some hope.
Vijay, Pujara in cruise control
Debutant Cheteshwar Pujara was promoted up the batting order and did justice to the faith wrested in him by captain M S Dhoni.
Pujara teamed with opener Vijay to help accelerate India's run-rate. They were severe on spinner Hauritz, sending him to the fence a number of times.
The spinner conceded 12 runs in his first over, with Pujara helping himself to two boundaries, both right of mid-off. And in his second over, it was Vijay who singled him out.
Pujara completes fifty on debut
At lunch, India were 73 for 1 and both batsmen had stitched up a 56-run partnership for the second wicket in quick time (just 60 balls).
Australia struck just after lunch, with Watson claiming the crucial wicket of Vijay. Vijay's 45-ball 37 was inclusive of six boundaries; he put on 72 runs for the second wicket with Pujara (in just 78 balls).
Tendulkar came in and attacked from the word go.
Pujara and Tendulkar put together 57 runs for the third wicket to all but seal Australia's fate.
In the meanwhile, Pujara completed his maiden Test fifty.
The Saurashtra batsman became only the fifth Indian to score 50 or more in the fourth innings of a Test on debut. The last to do it was Sunil Gavaskar, in 1971.
Pujara's (89 off 72) stint at the crease was ended by Hauritz.
Tendulkar, Dravid guide India to historic win
In Hauritz's eighth over, Tendulkar seemed in a hurry, hitting successive sixes over long-on. And along with Dravid, he took India to the brink before tea, making the final session a mere formality.
After 38 overs (at tea), the home team had scored 185 for three, with Tendulkar on 39, and giving him company was Dravid on 13.
Needing just 22 to win in the final session, India rattled off the runs in quick time (seven overs).
Tendulkar remained unbeaten on 53 and Dravid on 21; the duo put together a 61-run stand for the fourth wicket as India cruised home.
Tendulkar was later named Man-of-the-match and Man-of-the-series for his brilliant batting display against the formidable Aussies through the two-match Test series.