Australia were made to sweat a little bit by the defiant Indian tailendersbefore wrapping up the first Test with a resounding 217-run victory and take a1-0 lead in the four-match series today.
Needing just four wickets on the final day's play, the visitors were made towait for nearly three hours before breaking the dogged late order resistance todismiss India for 239 and inflict one of the heaviest Test defeats on the hostsin their own backyard.
The Indians were thoroughly outplayed in all departments of the game from thevery first day and overhauling a record target of 457 on a wearing track at theM Chinnaswamy Stadium was well beyond the reach of a batting line up which hasbeen miserably out of form.
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Resuming at the overnight score of 105 for six, the Indian tailenders IrfanPathan (55) and Harbhajan Singh (42) managed to delay the inevitable by battingwith a determination not shown by their famed top order batsmen.
The young Pathan cracked his maiden Test half century and got able supportfrom Harbhajan to not only frustrate the visitors but also ensure that India'smargin of defeat was less than 329 runs -- their biggest defeat by runs so farwhich had come against South Africa at the Eden Gardens in 1996-97.
Ironically, the last two wickets fetched more runs than the first eightcombined for India.
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Pathan and Harbhajan added 89 runs for the ninth wicket that lifted them from125 for eight to 214.
Pathan repeatedly stepped out to Shane Warne and smacked him to the on sideboundary, twice the ball sailed over the ropes.
Harbhajan at the other end showed guts to take on the pacers, and was carefulto avoid the fate of being foxed by a slower one by Glenn McGrath. He alsoclouted Warne for a huge six over mid-wicket.
In the process, the Aussie leg spinner was denied from equalling MutthiahMuralitharan's world record of 532 Test scalps.
He will now have to wait another three days to achieve the feat in the secondTest that starts in Chennai on Thursday.
Adam Gilchrist, after allowing Warne an extended spell, had to finally takethe second new ball.
Jason Gillespie, who was suffering from a side strain, struck almostimmediately when he had Pathan caught behind.
The 20-year old faced 141 balls and struck eight fours and two sixes, showingthat he has the potential to become an all-rounder.
Harbhajan then lifted McGrath over the head to the long off boundary beforeGillespie forced a miscued pull for a catch at fine leg.
It remains to be seen how much the exploits of Pathan and Harbhajan help theteam's morale.
Placards in the galleries read "India discovered new openers" whenthe duo were on song. It was more an indignation of India's top order failurethan a praise for the tailenders.
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India lost vice-captain Rahul Dravid after a watchful 60 in the 16th over ofthe day and the end seemed near when Anil Kumble dragged one on to his stumps.
The scoreboard read 125 for eight at that stage and the target of 457 amonumental 332 runs away. But Pathan and Harbhajan put the Aussie bowling to thesword with some belligerent shots.
Pathan was dropped on seven by Michael Clarke, who was declared theman-of-the-match, in the morning session, a lapse which made the Australiansspend a lot more time on the field.
As it were, the morning session saw 92 runs come India's way from 29 overs,the run rate a healthy 3.12.
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It was a far cry when Dravid and Pathan began the day with the chance ofsaving the match remote. Dravid's vigil ended when Michael Kasprowicz's reverseswing found him plumb in front of the wicket.
Kasprowicz then had another success in the next over when Kumble played on tohis stumps.
PTI
