Invincible Aussies turn sweet 16
Vinay Nayudu

MUMBAI, March 1: On Thursday, World champions Australia moved a step closer towards conquering the ‘‘Mount Everest’’ annihilating India in the first of three-Test Gavaskar-Border Trophy series inside three days at the Wankhede Stadium here.

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India’s only resistant was in the form of Sachin Tendulkar, who once again took the fight into the enemy camp but once he was captured, the Aussies steamrolled their way in awesome style to script a 10-wicket victory for a new record of 16 Test wins in a row. So far the Aussies have beaten Zimbabwe once (in Zimbabwe), New Zealand thrice (in New Zealand), Pakistan three times (at home), West Indies five times (at home) and India on four occasions (thrice at home and one in Mumbai).

India could muster only 219 runs in the second innings (resuming at 58/2) making the Aussies bat again. It was a mere formality as opener Matthew Hayden and Michael Slater knocked off the required 47 runs in just 7 overs. Asked to bat first India had made 176 in the first essay in reply of which Australia had scored 349.

If there was any doubt about the professionalism and abilities of the kangaroos in the tigerland, they proved a point. It was murder by precision with Steve Waugh and his army raising its flag on the first post of what is termed as their final frontier enroute supreme glory.

India on the other hand were plunged into the depths of despair with its so-called world class middle-order collapsing round the central pillar of Tendulkar (65-154m, 107b, 11x4) who was the only saving grace.

A third wicket partnership of 97 runs (154m, 40.3 overs) with Rahul Dravid provided semblance of a hope to the packed stadium surviving on a life support system called Tendulkar.

Cautious and committed Tendulkar and Dravid ensured a shock free morning until an ever agile Ricky Ponting brought off a stunner running and diving from mid-wicket position to near the square leg umpire to pluck the life out of the Indians. Much to the misfortune of Tendulkar the full-blooded pull off Mark Waugh bounced after hitting forward short leg fielder Justin Langer on the shoulder.

From loud cheers to an eerie silence, the atmosphere at the arena told it all to the Aussies what they had achieved.

While Dravid was compact and defiant in approach, he looked different after losing his illustrious partner.

But if India were hoping for a miracle, the Aussies ensured success through sheer professionalism engineered by their chief Steve Waugh. Marshalling his resources in a brilliant manner the ice-cool captain conspired the Indian downfall playing a trump card in twin brother Mark who bowled off-spinners that were like missiles.

Scoreboard
India 1st Innings: 176
Australia 1st Innings: 349
India 2nd Innings: (Overnight 58 for 2):
Shic Sunder Das c Steve Waugh b Gillespie (71m, 50b) 7
Sadagoppan Ramesh c Ponting b McGrath (107m, 84b, 7x4) 44
Rahul Dravid b Warne (261m, 196b, 4x4) 39
Nayan Mongia c Gilchrist b Gillespie (54m, 29b, 4x4, 1x6) 28
Sachin Tendulkar c Ponting b Mark Waugh (154m, 107b, 11x4) 65
Saurav Ganguly run out (Slater) (22m, 13b) 1
VVS Laxman c Gilchrist b Mark Waugh (28m, 27b, 3x4) 12
Ajit Agarkar b Mark Waugh (20m, 15b) 0
Harbhajan Singh Not Out (37m, 31b, 2x4) 17
Rahul Sanghvi b Gillespie (9m, 6b) 0
Javagal Srinath b McGrath (12m, 8b) 0
Extras: (b-5, nb-1) 6
TOTAL: (all out in 94.1 overs, 393 mins) 219
Fall of wickets: 1-33 (Das), 2-57 (Ramesh), 3-154 (Sachin), 4-156 (Ganguly), 5-174 (Laxman), 6-174 (Dravid), 7-193 (Agarkar), 8-210 (Mongia), 9-216 (Sanghvi).Bowling: McGrath 17.1-9-25-2, Fleming 15-1-44-0, Warne 28-11-60-1, Gillespie 19-8-45-3, Mark Waugh 15-5-40-3.
Australia 2nd Innings:
Matthew Hayden Not Out (26m, 21b, 4x4, 1x6) 28
Michael Slater Not Out (20m, 21b, 4x4) 19
TOTAL: (for no loss, 7 overs) 47
Bowling: Srinath 2-0-17-0, Agarkar 1-0-8-0, Harbhajan Singh 2-0-11-0, Sanghvi 2-1-11-0.

Copyright © 2001 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.