You are in > manchester.com  > News > India seal Test series victory over Australia

Cricket

India seal Test series victory over Australia

10/11/2008

India have beaten Australia by 172 runs in the fourth Test in Nagpur to inflict the tourists' first series defeat since the 2005 Ashes.

Chasing a victory target of 381 in their second innings after bowling out their hosts for 295 on day four, Australia already faced an uphill struggle when resuming on 13-0 on the final morning.

And that task was made all the more difficult when in-form opener Simon Katich was dismissed for 16 after being caught behind off seamer Ishant Sharma.

Captain Ricky Ponting (eight) followed soon after when he was run out, leaving the visitors rocking on 37-2.

Their desire for quick runs was evident by the shot-making of the upper order, particularly the powerful Matthew Hayden.

But Michael Clarke's dismissal for 22 - almost an exact replica of the Katich wicket - with the score on 82 kept the Australians on the back foot.

Another brief glimpse of the fluent batting that could have given Ponting's men a chance came when Hayden and Mike Hussey (19) shared a 68-run partnership.

But spinner Amit Mishra, who finished with excellent figures of 3-27, ended their resistance by tempting Hussey into lobbing a catch to Rahul Dravid – while Hayden followed him to the clubhouse four runs later.

The cheap wickets of Brad Haddin (four), Shane Watson (nine), Jason Krejza (four) and Brett Lee (zero) followed as the Australians collapsed from 150-3 to 191-9.

And despite some late resistance from Cameron White (26 not out) and Mitchell Johnson (11), it only delayed the inevitable as the fast bowler was trapped lbw by Harbhajan Singh to bowl out the tourists for 209.