New Delhi: Three wickets in 11 balls from Michael Clarke ended India's brave resistance as Australia triumphed by 122 runs with a record levelling effort in the second Test to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the SCG on Sunday.
India's captain Anil Kumble turned in an inspirational performance with the bat but was left stranded on 45 as India lost their final three wickets on the same score to be 210 all out, while Australian captain Ricky Ponting's men celebrated their 16th consecutive victory in a riveting final day of a Test match.
India, set an improbable 333 to level the four-match series, saw more decisions doing them in that saw them crumble to 54-3 and then again on 137-6 as the match was decided by a freak over from Michael Clarke polished off the tail with three overs remaining for a draw.
India were immediately put on the backfoot with the wicket of Wasim Jaffer minutes before lunch, and lost the wickets of VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar - centurions from the first innings - at the stroke of tea.
Sourav Ganguly (51, 56b) staged a fascinating reply to counter Australia's bowling along with Rahul Dravid (38, 103b) led the rescue act but both batsmen fell to suspect calls, before Mahendra Singh Dhoni (35, 82b) and Kumble dug in with a courageous partnership.
Earlier, Australia dealt severe blows to India's batting order after setting 333 as target to put the second Test beyond the visitors' reach after Ricky Ponting sounded the declaration on 401-7.
Hussey remained unbeaten on 145 to follow Matthew Hayden's 123 on day four. Andrew Symonds, too, capped off an excellent Test with the bat with a 61 to go with his unbeaten 162 in the first innings.
Trailing 0-2 in the four-match series, India now move to WACA Ground at Perth for the third Test starting on January 16.
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