By IANS
Sydney : Indian batsmen continued to face the brunt of poor umpiring decisions as they failed to bat out the last two sessions of the second Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) here Sunday to lose the match by 122 runs.
That not only gave Australia a 2-0 lead in the series but also ensured them the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. And, it also helped Ricky Ponting and his men equal the world record-winning streak of 16 Tests, previously achieved by Steve Waugh’s team.
Australia, trailing by 69 runs on the first innings, declared their second innings at 401 for seven setting India a target of 333 runs to win. But the Indians, barring a brave effort by captain Anil Kumble (45 not out) and Sourav Ganguly (51), failed to give a tough fight and were all out for 210 runs.
Even as it looked Kumble might carry his team to the shore, Ponting effected an inspired bowling change bringing in local lad Michael Clarke in the 14th mandatory over. Clarke turned out to be the unlikely hero for the Australians as he dismissed Harbhajan Singh (7) and Rudra Pratap Singh (0) off the first two deliveries. Ishant Sharma, the last man, survived the hat-trick ball and then edged a catch into Mike Hussey’s hands at first slip to seal India’s fate. Kumble, despite his gusty 45, remained a dejected spectator watching wickets tumbling at the other end.
In a match marred by poor umpiring and charges of racial abuse, Australia made 463 runs in the first innings while India replied with 532. On the last day, powered by an unbeaten 145 from Mike Hussey, Australia made 401 for seven and set India a target of 333 to win in just two sessions.
A chase for a win was always going to be a daunting task. First Wasim Jaffer left in Brett Lee’s first over for a duck and then the ghosts of poor umpiring returned again to push India onto the mat.
Indian opener Wasim Jaffer out for a fourth-ball duck, caught behind off Brett Lee, left India six for one at lunch. The Australian fast bowlers removed two Indian batsmen – V.V.S. Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar – in the second session to leave the visitors struggling at 79 for three at tea.
Laxman (20), who looked in fine touch after a century in the first innings, fell to the accuracy of Stuart Clark. Clark sneaked one in that shaped in nicely after pitching just outside the off and Laxman missed it. He was trapped leg before to leave India at 34 for two.
Twenty runs later Sachin Tendulkar (12) also departed after playing onto his stump an away going Clark delivery.
Two former captains Ganguly (51) and Rahul Dravid (38) led a great fight-back but both fell to atrocious decisions from the umpires and in between Yuvraj Singh left without any score.
Steve Bucknor gave Dravid caught behind off Symonds, despite TV replays showing that the batsman did not edge the ball.
Mark Benson also handed Ganguly out a controversial decision. The left-handed batsman stood his ground after Clarke took a low catch the third slip off Lee. Umpire Benson instead of consulting square leg umpire Bucknor, consulted the Australian captain before giving Ganguly out, giving rise to another controversy. TV replays, however, showed that Clarke had not completed the catch and as he rolled over and got up the ball was clearly touching the turf.
In between these two decisions, Yuvraj edged Symonds into the waiting hands of Adam Gilchrist.
Kumble and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (38) made the last-ditch effort to save the match and they seemed to be doing fine as they added 48 runs for the fifth wicket. Dhoni perished when he did not offer a stroke to Symonds and was adjudged leg-before as the ‘Hawk Eye’ showed the ball would have clipped the bails.
Harbhajan, who had scored a fighting half century in the first innings, gave his captain company for almost 10 overs and India had played out 70 of the minimum of 72 overs – Australia though may well have squeezed in an extra over or two in the last hour — they needed to bat out for a draw.
Into the 71st over, Ponting brought in Clarke and the latter polished off the last three batsmen in five deliveries.
Earlier in the morning, Australia resumed at 282 for four and Hussey went on to hit an unbeaten 145, his fourth hundred in four home Tests this season against Sri Lanka and India. Riding on that innings, Australia declared at 401 for seven, 17 minutes before lunch.
Hussey and first-innings century-maker Symonds made things simpler for Ponting to chalk out his plan by adding 128 for the fifth wicket before the latter was out caught behind off R.P. Singh for 61. In their quest for quick runs, Gilchrist and Brad Hogg perished quickly, but Hussey remained not out to improve his already staggering Test average and hit 16 fours in his knock.
Kumble took four wickets in a long bowl of 40 overs to finish the match with eight wickets.
Andrew Symonds was adjudged the man of the match.