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Best Border-Gavaskar Trophy Tests: No.2

VVS Laxman gets India home in a thriller as umpiring and four overthrows highlight thriller in Mohali

India play Test No.500 against New Zealand in Kanpur next week, and to mark the occasion, cricket.com.au is counting down the best seven India v Australia Test matches since the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was introduced in 1996.

The two nations have played out some absolute classics in those 20 years, and they'll add another chapter to the rivalry when Australia tour India in February.

Best Border-Gavaskar Tests

7) A masterclass from the Little Master

6) An emotional tribute to a lost mate

5) Clarke heroics seal controversial victory

4) Waugh's words spur Dravid to heroic Test

3) Harbhajan the hero as India seal series

2) Injured Laxman the hero in Mohali thriller

2. First Test, PCA Stadium, Mohali, 2010

Australia 428 (Watson 126, Paine 92, Zaheer 5-94) and 192 (Watson 56, Ishant 3-34, Zaheer 3-43) lost to India 405 (Tendulkar 98, Raina 86, Johnson 5-64) and 9-216 (Laxman 73no, Hilfenhaus 4-57) by one wicket

Only the twelfth instance in history of a Test match being decided by one wicket, this classic encounter in Mohali was labelled "one of the best and one of the most exciting Test matches I've played in" by defeated skipper Ricky Ponting.

We'll get to the thrilling final stages shortly, but this Test is also remembered as a high watermark in the career of Aussie allrounder Shane Watson, whose first-innings century - and 92 from Test rookie Tim Paine - powered the Aussies to an imposing total of 428.

India were 4-230 in reply before Sachin Tendulkar, who was dismissed two short of a century by the part-time off-spin of Marcus North, and Suresh Raina pushed the tourists to within 23 runs of Australia's total as Mitchell Johnson claimed five wickets.

Having led for the first three days of the match, the tourists lost some of their ascendency when they were skittled for just 192 in their second innings, Watson again leading the way with 56, leaving India needing 216 to claim a 1-0 series lead.

Image Id: 8E76B04A66A047FC812550AB3B480C81 Image Caption: Watson top scored in both innings for Australia // Getty Images


The Aussies then ripped out four of India's top five for just 48 runs before stumps on day four, with seemingly only Tendulkar, a crippled VVS Laxman and the lower order standing in the way of victory.

And when four down became eight midway through the morning session of the final day with 92 runs still required, the match was Australia's to lose.

But Laxman, using a runner due to a back injury, and No.10 Ishant Sharma swung the match India's way with an unlikely 81-run partnership before Ben Hilfenhaus claimed his fourth wicket of the innings, trapping Sharma in front for a courageous 31, with replays showing the ball would have comfortably missed leg stump.

With one wicket remaining, six runs still to get and tension palpable, the match turned on one single delivery when Johnson struck No.11 Pragyan Ojha on the pads and the Australians appealed vigorously in unison.

Image Id: D294514E71B9470EAFB4ADE76A386CC7 Image Caption: The Australian react to a heart-breaking loss // Getty Images


Umpire Billy Bowden shook his head, a decision that was compounded for the hosts when a young Steve Smith - on the field as a substitute for the injured Doug Bollinger - fired at the stumps from point with Ojha out of his crease.

The ball missed and with no one backing up the throw, it raced away for four, reducing the runs required to just two.

Replays showed that, like the Sharma decision moments earlier, the umpire got it wrong, but the absence of the Decision Review System meant play continued.

A pair of leg byes to fine leg two deliveries later sealed a thrilling victory for the hosts, with Laxman finishing unbeaten on 73.

In his port-mortem, Ponting threw his support behind 21-year-old Smith for his bold decision to throw at the stumps at the critical moment.

Image Id: 9272C34EC25C473993B909BC0E3B858D Image Caption: The vanquished Ponting and ecstatic Laxman after the match // Getty


"If that was me, I would have done exactly the same thing," the skipper said.

"I wouldn't have worried about who is behind the stumps. If I have a chance to hit the stumps and win a Test match, I am going to take it.

"There is certainly no blame going Smith's way. That's a great attitude for the young bloke to have."

It was a prophetic statement from Ponting, about a man who would one day continue his legacy as captain, at the end of an unforgettable Test match.