Ind Aus T1 Day5: VVS Laxman, Ishant Star in Smart Wicket Partnership As India Win in Mohali

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Sreelata YellamrazuOct 5 2010

India pulled off the incredible indeed! And with a wicket to spare as Australia were forced to accept defeat in Mohali in the first Test of the India Australia series.

vvs co celebrate

At the start of the day, an Indian win seemed little a distant dream. Sachin Tendulkar was separated from more accomplished batsmen and apart from Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the Indian captain, there seemed little left in the Indian tank as far as chasing 216 for a win was concerned with V.V.S. Laxman laid low by back spams.

But in the unlikeliest of times, VVS has shown a penchant for a challenge against Australia. The day would prove no different. Sachin Tendulkar played one miscued shot that cost India dearly or so it seemed. Dhoni's run out seemed like a nail in the coffin as Doug Bollinger and Ben Hilfenhaus continued their work from the previous day.

India were staring at defeat at lunch when it seemed like a sad situation that all they needed were about fifty-nine runs with only two wickets in hands. When Harbhajan Singh went, India were at eight down for 124 and dreams of victory virtually gone.

But that is when Ishant Sharma, batting at no.10 joined forces with another injured mate, V.V.S. Laxman and the duo put on a partnership that not only defied logic but also, denied Australia who would have been looking to feast on victory post lunch.

The partnership yielded a good eighty-two runs that brought India within touching distance of victory. More importantly, Australia's patience was beginning to wear thin and the desperation for the final two wickets seemed to have got the better of them. There were a few hair raising moment for India when Australia missed a run out, were denied an lbw, and could have generally made mayhem with Laxman using a runner. But on the day India prevailed, holding their nerve even when Ishant fell as they sealed a one wicket victory in Mohali to go 1-0 up in the series.

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