Clinch final Test at Kotla in three days by six wickets to thrash visitors 4-0
When your time comes, you need to make the most of it for you don’t know what’s in store for you in the future.Ravindra Jadeja and Cheteshwar Pujara are trying to make their mark in international cricket and on Sunday both men did a world of good for themselves with the former taking his first five-for while the latter remaining unbeaten on 82 but more importantly making big contributions in helping their team secure a historical six-wicket win over Australia in the fourth and final Test here at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in the Capital which meant that the hosts took the series 4-0.
From Day One, the pitch was a menace for the batsmen as it was rough having patches and the bounce was uneven. Mystery of the pitch was a bonus for the left-handed Jadeja as it required a straight line to be kept by the bowler which Jadeja generally does. Hence he got three batsmen out bowled while two were outwitted lbw.
India only added six to their overnight score of 266 for eight as Ishant Sharma and Pragyan Ojha fell in successive deliveries to Nathan lyon, who had a career-best figures of 7 for 94. The Indian innings lasted just 13 balls and this gave the hosts a modest 10-run lead.
In order to make use of the new ball as the old one would turn viciously, Australia sent Glenn Maxwell to open with David Warner. Early boundaries would ensure a cushion of runs as chasing would be difficult on the crumbling Kotla track.
Man of the Match Jadeja was introduced in the fifth over and he struck with his third ball as Maxwell got bowled. Then in his very next over, Warner got stuck in the crease to a skidding Jadeja delivery and got hit on the pads as Australia were restricted to 20 for two. Three more wickets, Ed Cowan, captain Shane Watson and Phillip Hughes before lunch meant India could finish the game on Day 3 itself with the visitors reeling at 88 for five.
But another lower-order resistance gave Australian bowlers something to play for.
Peter Siddle was once again Australia’s highest scorer with 50, to go with his 51 in the first innings. This made him the first number nine batsman to score two fifties in a Test. He shared a 35-run partnership with James Pattinson for the ninth wicket as the Aussie innings ended at 164 which meant that the Indian team needed 155 to wrap up the series.
Pujara had hurt his fingers and could not take field for fielding, came to bat once again came to open the innings with Murali Vijay. He struck 11 fours in a 92-ball effort to make 82 and take India home. He played some glorious drives and remained unbeaten as four wickets, Vijay, Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar and Ajinkya Rahane feel around him.
Indian captain MS Dhoni hit the final runs as hosts made history by overhauling Australia by a 4-0 margin in the four-match Test series, their largest ever and the first for the visitors in 43 years.
Brief Scores
Australia: 262 & 164 all out in 46.3 overs (Ed Cowan 24, Peter Siddle 50; Ravindra Jadeja 5/58) lost to India: 272 & 158 for four in 31.2 overs (Cheteshwar Pujara not out 82, Virat Kohli 41; Glenn Maxwell 2/54) by six wickets.