With the Indian cricket team having arrived in Australia for yet another grueling tour, we take a look back at India’s rare wins Down Under over the years. In part three, we look at India’s memorable triumph over the Aussies at Melbourne during the 1980-81 tour.
The background: As it has often happened when India play away from home, the visitors got off to a losing start, going down by an innings and four runs at Sydney. India fared slightly better in the second encounter at Adelaide, and managed to draw the game. Still, they were under plenty of pressure heading into the final Test at Melbourne. Australia only needed a draw to secure the series while, for India, it was a must-win clash.
The teams
India: Sunil Gavaskar, Chetan Chauhan, Dilip Vengsarkar, Gundappa Viswanath, Sandeep Patil, Yashpal Sharma, Kapil Dev, Syed Kirmani, Karsan Ghavri, Shivlal Yadav and Dilip Doshi
Australia: John Dyson, Graeme Wood, Greg Chappell, Kim Hughes, Allan Border, Doug Walters, Rod Marsh, Bruce Yardley, Dennis Lillee, Len Pascoe and Jim Higgs
The match: Australia won thetoss in the Test, and chose to field. The decision proved fruitful for the hosts as India collapsed to 115 for 6. However, a battling century from Viswanath gave the Indian innings some stability. Viswanath batted for 274 minutes for his 114, and was ninth man out at the score of 230. He was well aided in his efforts by Patil, Kirmani and Yadav, all of whom chipped in with 20s. Lillee was the wrecker-in-chief for Australia with four wickets while Pascoe claimed three wickets. Australia still held the upper hand in spite of India’s fight back.
Australia’s reply was led by a magnificent century by Allan Border, who made 124 from 265 balls. He was very well aided by skipper Greg Chappell who contributed 76 and Doug Walters, who made a breezy 78. Down the order, wicket-keeper Rod Marsh also chipped in with 45. Thanks to a wonderful all-round effort from Australia, they finished on 419. Credibly for India, both their spinners Dilip Doshi and Shivlal Yadav were injured after being struck on the toe while batting. Yet, they bowled their hearts out and claimed five wickets between themselves. Ghavri and Patil also picked up two wickets each.
India responded sensationally in the second innings, courtesy a 165-run opening stand between Gavaskar and Chauhan. However, the match was embroiled into controversy after the Indian captain walked off infamously, taking Chauhan along with him after being given out controversially. The match continued and India, perhaps, dazed by what transpired out in the middle couldn’t concentrate properly. Vengsarkar, Viswanath and Patil all got starts, but India were bowled out for 324 leaving Australia only 143 to get.
The final day saw another major twist. Although India had claimed three quick wickets on the penultimate day, the hosts were still favourites to win. Kapil Dev, who had a strained his thigh muscle, didn’t bowl the previous day. On the last day, with the series on the line, he came in and sent back five Aussie batsmen in 16.4 overs to seal a sensational 59-run triumph for India. The series was thus tied at 1-1.
--By A Cricket Analyst
