da aviator aposta： An undefeated 52-run stand for the ninth wicket between Zaheer Khan and Murali Kartik helped India sneak to an unlikely two-wicket win in Mumbai, and reduce the margin of defeat in the series to 4-2
The Bulletin by Dileep Premachandran17-Oct-2007
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Murali Kartik ripped through the Australian innings with figures of 6 for 27, and was at the crease when the winning runs were scored too © AFP
The stage was set for India’s most loved cricketing son to bid adieu tohis home crowd with the sort of innings that he often played to illuminatethis venue for almost two decades. Instead, it was Murali Kartik, forevercondemned to Indian cricket’s fringes, who basked in the late-afternoonsunshine with a mesmeric spell of left-arm spin bowling, before takingpart in the unlikeliest of rearguard actions to script a famous victory.Australia’s pace bowlers had bullied and toyed with India’s top order, beforea defiant 65-run partnership between Robin Uthappa and Harbhajan Singhgave India fleeting hope. However, it was a stunning 52-run stand for the ninthwicket between Kartik and Zaheer Khan that gave India a consolation win ina series otherwise dominated by the world champions.By one of those strange quirks of fate, the Kartik-Zaheer partnershipmirrored the epic one between Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble in Bangalore11 years earlier. A crowd that had become despondent with Uthappa’s exitroused itself to cheer every forward defensive prod, every nudge and evenevery swipe that just evaded the outside edge.At 64 for 6, with only the cavalier Uthappa left of the top order, abject humiliation was on the cards but the partnership with Harbhajan spared a few blushes, before MichaelClarke and Johnson appeared to remove the last vestiges of resistance. Zaheer, however, clouted Brett Lee for a straight six, and when Kartik edged one between the wicketkeeper and slip for four, you sensed that the cricketing gods were on India’s side. Four leg byes off Mitchell Johnson settled it with four overs to spare, and fittingly, it was Kartik who was on strike.Even though the target of 194 wasn’t an imposing one, it was imperative thatIndia got a good start. They didn’t, with Johnson inducing diffident edgesfrom both Sourav Ganguly and Dinesh Karthik. Tendulkar sparkled briefly,with two glorious cuts for four off Johnson, but the moment he played onto Lee, the writing was clearly legible on the wall.Lee bowled at fearsome pace, but if anything, India’s plight only worsenedwith the introduction of Nathan Bracken’s medium pace. Showing superbcontrol of swing and seam, Bracken had Yuvraj Singh edging behind beforeslanting one away from Mahendra Singh Dhoni to get the same result.When Pathan edged to slip off James Hopes – there was no weak link toexploit anywhere – thoughts of victory receded into the far distance, andthe cheers as Uthappa spanked two huge sixes rang almost as hollow asIndian claims to batting greatness.The undoubted star of the day though was Kartik. Four years ago, he wasIndia’s best bowler in the TVS Cup that Australia won, but was nevertrusted enough to kick on to greater heights. On Wednesday, he showed justwhy he’s India’s most potent one-day spinner with a wonderful combinationof teasing flight, guile and sharp turn.
Robin Uthappa scored a fine 47 to bring India back into the game © AFP
The last time he played an international game in Mumbai, Kartik had beeninstrumental in India defending a paltry target of 107 in a dead-rubber,dismissing Ponting and Damien Martyn in the same over. The man whocaptained India to that improbable win, Rahul Dravid, may have beenmissing today but Kartik was again to the fore, on a hat-trick twice as hefinished with the best figures by an Indian bowler against Australia.The key moments came in the passage of play when Brad Hodge and AndrewSymonds were dismissed off successive deliveries. Symonds, the outstandingplayer of the series, came to the crease accompanied by a chorus of boos,and many more jeers and whistles followed him back after he cut a deliveryto Tendulkar at short cover. The previous ball had seen Hodge’s Indiannightmare continue, with Kartik angling one across to take the edge toslip.It was respite that India needed after they had squandered the perfectstart. Clarke was plumb first ball, but though Zaheer did little wrong,RP Singh started woefully at the other end, conceding four widesin his opening over. Adam Gilchrist struggled as the ball moved around,but Ponting was ruthless on the slightest bowling transgressions, driving,flicking off the pads and cutting with precision.India’s plight worsened when Zaheer was denied a second wicket asGilchrist, on 2, edged one toward the slips. Uthappa could only get hisfingertips to it. After a sedate start by his standards, Gilchristappeared to be finding some touch with two fours in Pathan’s opening overbut when he subsequently slashed at one, Harbhajan took a running catch atthird man.With pace not doing the trick, and Ganguly’s mixed bag not helping, Dhoniturned to his spinners, and Kartik certainly didn’t disappoint. Theotherwise wayward RP Singh also played his part with the crucial wicket ofPonting, coming round the wicket to induce an edge.If Kartik’s first double-whammy put India in charge, the second killed offAustralian hopes of a large total. Brad Haddin, dropped moments earlier byZaheer at deep midwicket, was trapped in front by the arm ball before BradHogg and Lee fell to the fourth and fifth balls of the over. Hogg wasdubiously given out, caught at forward short leg, while Lee edged one toRP Singh at short gully.By the time he ended a 22-run cameo from Hopes, Kartik, histeam-mates and the capacity crowd were beyond the clouds. But Johnson’s24-run cameo turned out to be a warning, and after dinner, it was back toterra firma with a thud as the three-time world champions illustratedtheir hatred of defeat. Fortunately for India, Kartik was intent onensuring that his dream day didn’t become a nightmare.