Laxman Guides India To Dramatic One-Wicket Win

Laxman Guides India To Dramatic One-Wicket Win

VVS Laxman steered India to a dramatic win on the final day in Mohali

©REUTERS/Andrew Caballero-Reynolds (INDIA - Tags: SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

India 405 (Tendulkar 98) & 216-9 (Laxman 73no) beat
Australia 428 (Watson 126) & 192 (Watson 56) by one wicket
First Test, Mohali, day five
Scorecard

An unbeaten half-century from VVS Laxman guided India to a nerve-jangling one-wicket victory over Australia on the final day of the first Test in Mohali.

Having been reduced to 124 for eight in pursuit of 216, Australia looked favourites to win but a ninth-wicket partnership of 81 between VVS Laxman (73 not out) and Ishant Sharma (31) frustrated the tourists and put the Indians within 11 runs of victory when Sharma was trapped in front by Ben Hilfenhaus.

However, Pragyan Ojha hit an unbeaten five to help Laxman and India over the finish line and into a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, 216 comfortably breaking the previous record for a successful chase in Mohali.

Four of Ojha's runs came from overthrows after he had been struck on the pad, been given not out, set off for a run, been sent back and had Steven Smith's throw hit the stumps, he would have been out, so close did Australia get to stealing the win from India.

They had began the day on 55 for four and soon lost the wicket of nightwatchman Zaheer Khan (10) when he was caught by Michael Clarke at slip as off-spinner Nathan Hauritz struck.

Sachin Tendulkar (38) and Laxman then edged the score past 100 before Tendulkar's dismissal, well caught by Michael Hussey as he tried to cut Doug Bollinger, gave Australia renewed hope of victory.

Those hopes increased when Mahendra Singh Dhoni, run out by Hilfenhaus for two, and Harbhajan Singh, caught by Ponting off Bollinger for the same score, left India eight wickets down and still 92 runs behind.

Sharma played a fine innings, his 31 coming from 92 balls with five fours and the partnership between two players who had spent time off the field during the match - Laxman with a back problem and Sharma with a knee injury - proved to be crucial in the outcome of the match, despite Hilfenhaus's best efforts.

He returned four for 57 and Bollinger three for 32 while Laxman's innings spanned 79 balls and included eight fours.

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