Brisbane Victory Day Thriller– Re-live
Any fitting words? For India 2 - Australia
1
Jinks and young guns ensure India smiles
last.
Well folks, ultimately it did happen. Our wish, hope, day
dream whatever you call it was turned into very ambitious goal, defying history
by `Ajinkya` boys down under and conquered
the ultimate ` final frontier`. Well it is very slowly sinking in even after
more than 24 hours. Even the diehard Indian supporters knew that this wish would
be extremely difficult to get fulfilled. But `Jinks` and his far too unknown,
fearless young guns treated this as an ambition and challenge to overcome,
without much fuss. 324 runs in a day, at Gabba, Brisbane fortress where last winning
total chased by visitors 236, way back in 1951. What a thrilling final day of
the Border - Gavaskar Trophy it was! Ultimate nail-biter. Ask those who
witnessed it live on TV - have they left any nails? Fortunately no heart attack
victim reported of any cricket fan. Indian tigers, rather cubs totally outplayed,
outthought kangaroos in their familiar field.
Who would have thought after Rohit Sharma failed on 7 at
start of the morning? With more than 6 hours to survive and 310 odd runs still
to chase.
And king Virat was not there to follow, changing nappies of
his newborn somewhere in India.
Ditto when Ajinkya Rahane got out with still 43 overs left
and 161 more runs behind of the target – 167/3.
That India is going to be victorious by day end.
We did not. Nor the experts, ex-test players of either side.
But Shubhman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar did and not only they just
thought but actually achieved with their unimaginable, unthinkable performance.
With rock-solid Pujara, Ajinkya making India`s intention clear in his cameo- 24
off 22. After Mayank also went for the ultimate, forged aggressive partnership
with Pant.
Not to be settled for anything less - Just go for Win, Win
and only Win. Was the mantra - was only one word, just one goal, one desire was
there in every member of Team India`s mind and heart - backed up by great
temperament, good skills and excellent attitude. - Survival , match saving , drawn test all
these words were thrown out of the window, out of brain , mind. And boy how did they did it.
It all started with young, promising, fluent Shubman Gill and
indomitable rock Cheteshwar Pujara, who laid the foundation with 114 runs partnership,
after Rohit’s departure. What a fluent stroke player this 21 year old young lad
from Punjab is, just playing in his third test. Both were playing very sedate
cricket. India was 83/1 at lunch - 38 overs – Gill 64, Pujara 8. But the first
glimpse of Indian intention was visible at 107/1, post lunch, in 46th over, by
Mitchell Stark. Shubman suddenly went in
top gear with breathtaking pull for 6, followed by upper cut 4, again a pull
off no-ball 4 to Mitchell Starc`s and Pujara`s upper cut 4 in the same over.20
runs off the over. Shubman leaped from 74 to 89.54 more over and 201 to get
with 9 wickets in hand. Aussies slowly started doubting their abilities. When
Shubhman failed on his 91 with 8 glorious fours and 2 hits into the stand at
132/2, India had a foot in to the door. With 196 more to get from 52 overs. The
possibility was nearing by. Though Captain Ajinkya failed on just 24. Well it
was not just 24. It changed the momentum, gave the clear signal to opposition
that we are going for the kill. He made the intention to go for win very clear
with a 4 and a 6, in his 22 ball innings.167/3 - 161 more from 43 overs, at
3.74. Rishabh Pant promoted at no. 5
ahead of Mayank, makes it clear to opposition that India thinking of win only. Aussies
started to become bit more tense, as memories of 97 during previous test
counterattack were quite fresh. Meanwhile Pujara was as solid as ever, holding
other end intact. He really `put his body on the line`. With not just 1, 2 or 3
but as many as 10-12 blows on the body. From almost breaking his right hand knuckles
to falling back strip of helmet on the stumps. But such an uncompromising fighter
he is, never backed an inch. No 1 ranked Cummins, Hazelwood, Starc tried all
the tricks and skills with their hostile bowling spells, short pitched stuff, one after the other, but it hardly mattered
apart from few grimaces and running physiotherapist visits in the middle. At
tea India were 183/3- Pujara 43, Pant 10, 37 more overs and 145 to get @ 3.91
with 7 wickets in hand. Cheteshwar Pujara
stayed on made fifty in the process, with 7 fours. Facing 211 balls so @ 35
overs, single handedly, blunting the world class quality pace attack. Over
after over after over. It certainly tired
the pacers - physically, mentally. And used excellent footwork to negate Naton
Lyon, on a 5th day pitch. Cummins got Pujara on second delivery off
second new ball, after 61 runs partnership with Rishabh Pant. 228/4- with 19.4
more overs and 100 to get @ 5.12 runs per over. Pant was 34 off 84 then.23 year
old took the charge of a breathtaking chase.37 runs partnership with Mayank (9)
in next 6 overs. 265/5.Meanwhile Pant moved to 57. 63 to get in 13 more overs,
at 4.84 runs per over. 21 year old debutant Washington Sunder walks in. New
ball was just 7 year old. But it hardly made any impact on fearless Washi. After
his 20 balls, hooked the most dangerous Cummins into the crowd, a la great
Kapil Dev - Nataraja style. Followed by slice over slips for four.11 off the
over. In the very next over, Pant kept scooping- falling on the back in the process
and sweeping Lyon for consecutive fours. 15 off 94th over. Pair scored 26 in
just 2 overs.304/5.Hosts clueless! Target quite within reach - 24 to get from
last 6 overs, with 5 wickets in hand. When Sunder left after 22 off 29 with 2
fours and a six, and partnership of 53 in 55 balls, victory was at the doorstep
318 / 6.Pant had moved to 80. 10 more to get from 4 overs. Shardul Thakur left
on 2 off 3 balls while lifting Hazelwood, gave a bit off hiccup, adding to the
climax, making Indian camp a bit tense.325/7.3 more to get , in 3 overs. But in
the process Pant had got the strike for last 2 balls of that over. Hazelwood
made Pant miss one at leg side, Pant fails to connect a one arm sweep. Last
ball of the over, Pant should get one to keep Saini off strike next over. But
as tense he was Hazelwood bowls a full toss, bit angling away to off. Pant
connects and pushes firmly to vacant mid off area, kept running, only to realize
that no fielder was in pursuit and the ball crosses the long off fence. India stealing
3 wickets win in Brisbane decider, there by clinching series 2-1, consecutive
on Aussie soil. Such a tough, hard-fought series win. Man of the hour Rishabh Pant
remained unbeaten on 89 off 138 balls with 9 fours and a six. And one of the finest
chapters was written in Indian cricket history by Ajinkya Rahane and fearless
young Indian boys, which would be definitely talked about for years and years, across
generations to follow. Battle of Brisbane enabled to win the much dreamed of `final
frontier`, for any touring Indian Team.
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