Resurgent India script a famous win at Perth

DAy 4:

Perth: This is one that the Aussies won't forget in a hurry. Out to seal off the series, and also record their 17th consecutive Test win, they were undone by a charged up India to go down by 72 runs on day four of the third Test at Perth.

The home side, chasing 413 were bowled out for 340. This incidentally, is the first-ever win for any team from the sub-continent at Perth.

Twice now, India have denied Australia the record of 17 straight wins, following up on that sensational victory in Kolkata in 2001.

India scripted this fairytale comeback 'Down Under' with some sensational bowling by their pace trio of Irfan Pathan, R.P. Singh and Ishant Sharma, which was supported well by the batsmen, all the way down the order.

Michael Clarke top scored with an elegant 81 before Anil Kumble foxed him to take India on the brink of a super win. But the Indians had to wait to attain the victory as the Aussie tail launched a counter-attack.

Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clark came out with all guns blazing to share a belligerent 73-run stand. The duo gave the fielding side a scare with some lusty hits. The partnership was finally broken by Man of the Match Irfan Pathan when the left-arm seamer dismissed Clark for 32.
RP Singh dealt the final blow, cleaning up number eleven Shaun Tait for four to take India to their first ever Test win at Perth and the fifth in Australia.

Earlier, the visitors had done most of the damage in the post-lunch session as Australia lost four key wickets.

Michael Hussey, who came up with a gritty knock, was the first Aussie to fall in the post-lunch session for 46. RP Singh grabbed his first wicket in the Australian second essay when he trapped Hussey leg before.

Fortune did not favour India's nemesis Andrew Symonds like it did in Sydney as the Queenslander fell to a dubious decision off Anil Kumble. Replays showed the ball clearly ricochet off the bat on to the pad but umpire Asad Rauf thought otherwise as he raised the dreaded finger to send Symonds back for 12.

The dangerous Adam Gilchrist took the attack to India during his brief stint in the middle before an inspired bowling change by Kumble in the form of Virender Sehwag upset the Aussie plans. Sehwag bowled the southpaw around his legs to the delight of the Indian team.

But the Delhi bowler was not done yet. In his very next next over, Sehwag had Brett Lee caught off bat and pad at silly point by VVS Laxman to send the Aussie innings tottering at 229-7.

Ricky Ponting, was the only wicket to fall in the morning session after the Aussie skipper, along with Hussey, had safely negotiated the first hour of play to add 74 runs for the third wicket. But just after the first hour, rookie pacer Ishant Sharma struck as he got India their first breakthrough of the day.

Sharma, for the second time in the match, claimed the Australian captain, five short of a half-century.