India beat Australia by two wickets and takes the series 2-1
India Vs Australia, 3rd Test, Chennai, Day 5

Chennai, March 22: India pulled off a thrilling two-wicket win in the third and the decisive Test against Australia to clinch Border-Gavaskar trophy 2-1 at the M A Chidambaram stadium here on Thursday.

Harbhajan Singh was declared Man of the series for his tally of 32 wickets and Singh along with Matthew Hayden shared the Man of the Match honours.

Test debutante Sameer Dighe guided India to victory, combining with Zaheer Khan in a 16-run eighth wicket partnership to bring India to the edge of victory before joining with Harbhajan Singh who hit the winning runs.

Resuming at tea on 132/5, just 23 runs away from the victory, the Indians, lost their way losing Venkatsai Laxman to a spectacular catch by Mark Waugh at mid-wicket. Laxman scored 66 of 81 balls with 12 hits to the fence.

India suffered another setback when Sairaj Bahutule was caught be Warne edging to Miller. The Indians were then reduced to 132 for seven.

Zaheer Khan joined Sameer Dighe and took the score to 151 before Steve Waugh’s decision to replace Miller with McGrath paid off. Glenn McGrath finally got rid of Zaheer Khan with Indians still needing four runs for victory.

Then came in Harbhajan Singh, high on confidence after a 32-wicket series, blasting a drive to cover nearly losing his off-stump to McGrath.

Singh finally scored the winning runs with a square drive.

Earlier, at one stage the home side were coasting home at 101 for two, lost their three main batsmen — Sachin Tendulkar, captain Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid - in the space of 21 runs in a dramatic post-lunch session.

India had lost opener Shiv Das before lunch, top-edging an attempted hook off Glenn McGrath to give the fast bowler an easy return catch. Sadagopan Ramesh helped Laxman add 58 for the second wicket when he was run out for 25.

India appeared comforably placed before fast bowler Jason Gillespie hit back by removing Tendulkar and Ganguly in successive overs. Tendulkar, who made 17, tried to move away from a short delivery, but his outstretched bat took the edge and carried to Mark Waugh in the slips.

Ganguly, gaining a streaky boundary through the slips, fell next ball when another ambitious drive landly in the safe hands of Mark Waugh at second slip.

Dravid managed only four when he drove Colin Miller to mid-off where Steve Waugh dived to pick up a low catch.

Earlier in the morning session, the tourists, who resumed at their overnight score of 241-7, were all out for 264 in their second knock 66 minutes after the start of the final day's play here. Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh finished with eight for 84, his fourth successive haul of six or more wickets in the current series.

Harbhajan claimed all the three remaining wickets on Thursday morning conceding just two runs from 8.5 overs.

The 20-year-old, who claimed four wickets in the first Test and 13 in the second, took 15 here to end the series with a staggering tally of 32 wickets. Only three other bowlers in the game's history have taken more wickets in a three-Test series.

 
Australia sets India a target of 155 to win the Test and the series
India Vs Australia, 3rd Test, Chennai, Day 5

Chennai, March 22: The young Sardar did it again for India. He became the third highest wicket taker in the three-match series with 32 wickets in the series including 15 in the final Test.

Harbhajan took 3-2 this morning off 8.5 overs to finish with 8-84 and 32 wickets in the series.

Australia went into the fifth and final day at 7/241 giving a lead of 131 with skipper Steve Waugh on the crease on 43.

The tourists batted for just over an hour this morning for the addition of 23 vital runs.

Steve Waugh was Harbhajan's 30th wicket of the series caught at bat-pad by Shiv Sunder Das for 47. 

Harbhajan claimed his 31st victim when Jason Gillespie, who batted well for 46 minutes, was beaten by bounce and gloved a ball to Rahul Dravid for two.

That left Australia with 9-251.

McGrath was the last man to come in adding a few more runs before Colin Miller was last man out, lbw to Harbhajan.

The tourists were all out for 264 setting India 155 runs to win the third Test and the series.

India has a minimum of 70 overs to make the runs at a run-rate of 2.21.

Australia end day 4 at 241/7 leading India by 131 runs 
India Vs Australia, 3rd Test, Chennai, Day 4  

Resuming after tea, at 159/4, the Waugh brothers got into a good rhythms however it did not last long enough as Mark Waugh fell to the guile of Harbhajan Singh.

Mark played a full-blooded leg glance off the back foot to a sharply bouncing ball from the off-spinner, but Rahul Dravid pulled off a brilliant catch, first diving horizontal to get his right hand on the ball, losing it then retrieving it as he fell to the turf.

Ricky Ponting came in next to join his captain and looked no more comfortable than he had in his previous innings in this series. Before he had scored, Ponting survived a big appeal for caught behind off Harbhajan's destructive straight ball and in the next over, still on nought, he drove a low full toss back to leg-spinner Sairaj Bahutule, who could not hold the chance.

Ponting lifted the last ball of Harbhajan's next over for a superb six over long on. However, the shot he played was one of desperation more than dominance. Once again though, Harbhajan proved to be too hot to handle. Ponting was caught off the glove by Dravid at leg gully to complete a disastrous series that netted him 17 runs in five confused innings.

Ending the day on 241/7, Australia are 131 runs ahead with three wickets in hand and one day to play. The wrecker in chief? Who else - Harbhajan Singh with 5/82. His dominance means that India may come back from a very poor start in the first Test in Bombay to stage a great recovery and take the series 2-1.

India back in charge as Australia lose some quick wickets
India Vs Australia, 3rd Test, Chennai, Day 4  (Post Lunch)

Chennai, March 21: The session after lunch proved to be in India’s favour as the visitors lost wickets at regular intervals. Australians were looking strong when they went for Lunch without losing a single wicket. However, the post Lunch session proved to be heavy on them as they lost wickets in quick succession. 

At tea, Australia were 159/4, adding 70 runs in the session for the loss of four wickets. Mark Waugh was on 37 with brother Steve on 10.

Matthew Hayden was the first to go on 35 holing out to midwicket where Zaheer Khan took a diving catch off the bowling of Nilesh Kulkarni. 

Adam Gilchrist was promoted to number three, however he failed miserably yet again having scored only one run in his previous three Test innings. Gilchrist lasted for 11 balls and made a single run before Harbhajan Singh trapped him lbw. 

Michael Slater (48) edged a catch to V.V.S. Laxman at first slip in Harbhajan's next over.

From 0-82, Australia had lost 3-11 in five overs and was still 17 runs short of making India bat again. 

The arrival of Mark Waugh made things better for Australia as he along with Justin Langer restored some balance. However, Langer (21) was the fourth to go when he was caught at slip by Laxman defending a legspinner from Sairaj Bahutule, leaving Australia 4-141 a few minutes before tea. 

Harbhajan has 2-63 off 22 overs while Bahutule has 1-14 off three and Kulkarni 1-43 off 13.

Australian openers make a great start 
India Vs Australia, 3rd Test, Chennai, Day 4 (Pre Lunch)

Chennai, March 21: Australian openers give their side a great start in the second innings as the visitors went to lunch at 69 for no loss. Both Michael Slater and Matthew Hayden were on 34.

The tourists need another 41 runs to get back on level terms after India made 501 this morning in reply to Australia's 391.

Harbhajan Singh was introduced in just the fourth over after captain Sourav Ganguly decided his one over with the new ball was enough. Slater immediately set about trying to tame Harbhajan by lofting his second delivery over long-on for six.

Harbhajan’s pre-lunch spell of seven overs including three maidens but the other four yielded 25 - more than six an over.

The openers also found run-scoring relatively easy off Nilesh Kulkarni, whose opening four overs cost 22 runs, six of which came when Hayden played a terrific sweep-slog which sailed over the midwicket fence.

Earlier, India was bowled out for 501 - a lead of 110.

Australia came in to bat almost an hour after play started. India batted for 43 minutes and added 21 runs off nine overs after resuming at 9-480.

India slumps to 480/9 leading Australia with 89 runs after Tendulkar's brilliant knock
India Vs Australia, 3rd Test, Chennai, Day 3

Chennai, March 20: Tendulkar completed his 25th Test century as India extended its lead over Australia to 89 runs with Sairaj Bahutule and Nilesh Kulkarni batting at four and naught at the end of day 3.

Tendulkar, 27, moved up to joint fifth place on the list of all-time century makers along with Australian captain Steve Waugh, who scored his 25th hundred during his team's 171-run loss in the second test at Kolkatta last week.

Tendulkar reached the three-figure mark with a huge six over long-on off spinner Colin Miller and dedicated the innings to his brother Ajit, who had come down from Bombay to watch him bat.

"I have played many better knocks but I am happy with this one. Any batsman tries to score runs, so it's a great feeling to get a hundred," he said.

"We would have preferred not to bat for the second time," the maestro batsman said.

”I always try to anchor the innings, but sometimes it doesn't work, like it did today," he added.

Tendulkar said the wicket was turning and bouncing and would be more difficult to play as the match progressed.

Australia did not have a great day on the field, but in the last session took five wickets to restrict India's lead. Australia began with two wickets in the first fifteen minutes, and ended the day taking five wickets in the last session.

Michael Slater dropped a Tendulkar skier when the star batsman was on 82. It can't be termed as a match-losing catch yet, but it can definitely add to the bad marks that Slater has earned during the tour.

Gillespie rescued Australia in the final 90 minutes when he dismissed Rahul Dravid for 81 to end a 169-run fifth-wicket stand with Tendulkar, and then finally had Tendulkar caught behind for 126.

Ganguly seemed out of shorts once again, nudging unnecessarily and finally getting out for 22 runs off 76 balls - snicking Glenn McGrath and caught by Gilchrist.

Colin Miller, who bowled 44 overs, had to wait till his penultimate over to get two wickets of Zaheer Khan (4) caught and bowled and Harbhajan Singh (2) caught by Mark Waugh at first slip.

Warne who failed to make an impact in the early session finally got a break through when he got Sameer Dighe out, his first  lbw dismissal in India.

Earlier in the first session, India, resuming on 211/1, scored only 55 runs for the loss of opener Shiv Sunder Das (84) and the  Laxman (65).

The man responsible for that strong start was Glenn McGrath, whose first spell brought him 2/5 off six immaculate overs.

By stumps, Australia had indeed put itself back in the match.

Anything less than 250 cannot be a winning lead, but the Test looks interestingly poised with the pitch giving bounce and turn.

Strong batting performance takes India to 211/1 at the end of Day 2
India Vs Australia, 3rd Test, Chennai, Day 2 

Chennai, March 19:India's batsmen treated the Australian spinners with disdain as they made a flying start to their first innings at the Chidambaram Stadium.

They took just 64 overs to gather 211 for one at the close, with Shiv Das 84 not out second Test hero Vangipurappu Laxman unbeaten on 59.

Das and Sadagoppan Ramesh (61) added 123 for the first wicket - easily their best stand of the series - before Ramesh fell in the 41st over, caught at silly point by Ricky Ponting off Shane Warne.

However, the arrival of Laxman merely resulted in an increase in the scoring rate. Laxman, who made 281 in India's second innings in Calcutta last week, again looked formidable with his half-century coming off in just 52 balls with 10 fours. 

Warne ended the day with one for 73 from 20 overs.

India strikes back with Harbhajan as the chief wrecker 7-133
India Vs Australia, 3rd Test, Chennai, Day 2

Chennai, March 19: Resuming on 326/3, the Australians were at the receiving end in the first session of the play at Day 2, adding just 65 runs for the loss of 7 wickets.

Steve Waugh was rapped on the pad by a Harbhajan Singh off spinner. The incident came after Waugh tried to play a sweep shot against Harbhajan and the ball hit his pad, flew up and bounced back, threatening to hit the off stump.

As Harbhajan appealed for an lbw decision, which was never going to be awarded, Waugh noticed the ball heading for his stumps and stuck out his hand to deflect it.

A renewed appeal for 'handled the ball' ensued and Steve Waugh was back in the pavilion for 47.

Off the very next ball, Ricky Ponting was stumped to an off spinner from Harbhajan as Sameer Dighe whipped the bails off to pick up his first dismissal in Test cricket.

Ponting (0) was well out of his crease.

There after, Adam Gilchrist (1), Shane Warne (0), Jason Gillespie (0) and opener Matthew Hayden (203) followed in quick succession - all victims of India’s off spinner Harbhajan Singh

Matthew Hayden's tremendous innings had come to an end on 203 (320b 15x4 6x6) when he lofted Harbhajan straight to Sourav Ganguly at long off.

By then it was all over for Australia and they were all out for 391.

Harbhajan Singh with outstanding figures of 133-7 was once again the wrecker in chief.

Australia 326/3 at stumps on Day 1 of the final Test
India Vs Australia, 3rd Test, Chennai, Day 1

Chennai, March 18: Matthew Hayden maintained his quest for runs as he batted through out opening day of the deciding final Test against India as Australia took the early initiative to reach the close on 326 for three.

Hayden unbeaten on 147 with five sixes recorded his second hundred of the series and the best of his Test career as Australia made steady progress to put their stunning defeat in Calcutta behind them.

With partner Steve Waugh unbeaten on 43, the duo added 78 runs in the session between tea and close of play to take their unfinished fourth wicket partnership to 109.

Earlier in the day, the tourists shrugged off the early loss of Michael Slater to dominate the home attack. Slater fell to the third ball of the day when left-armer Zaheer Khan, the only specialist seamer in the side, had him caught by Vangipurappu Laxman at second slip.

Hayden survived a run out chance on 21 after debutant wicket-keeper Sameer Dighe - playing in place of an injured Nayan Mongia - failed to collect a throw with the batsman struggling to regain his crease.

Langer added 35 runs hitting six boundaries and a six before off-spinner Harbhajan Singh beat him in the air and forced an easy catch to Rahul Dravid at first slip.

Mark Waugh joined Hayden for a third wicket stand of 150 as Australia continued to force the pace. He was however, caught by substitute fielder Hemang Badani off Sairaj Bahatule, when he went for a big one over long on, mistiming the stroke with the ball taking the bottom edge. In his 70 runs spell, Mark Waugh struck seven boundaries and a six.

Waugh along with Matthew Hayden put together a partnership of 150 runs for the third wicket.

The Indian skipper, Sourav Ganguly was forced to bring on Sachin Tendulkar into the attack as his mainstream bowlers failed to make any impression on the two well set batsmen. Even though he could not get the much-needed wicket, Tendulkar slowed down the proceedings with some tight bowling (8-1-16-0).