On This Day: VVS Laxman and the tail clinches a thriller in Mohali

Indian cricket has always given some of the finest players to the sport. The heritage has been going for a long time and there have always been times when performances by the players have taken away the piece of heart. On the same day, back in 2010, India played a Test match against Australia in Mohali. A memorable Innings by legendary batsman VVS Laxman from one end and support from Ishant Sharma from the other end led India home in a thriller of a Test.

The beginning

The Indian side was being led by MS Dhoni while Ricky Ponting led Australia from the front. In the first innings, the visitors posted 428 on board, courtesy Shane Watson’s brilliant century (126 off 338). In the same innings, Zaheer Khan stunned the batsmen by picking a five-wicket haul to his credit, and his heroics with the ball got him the player of the match award. Indian batsmen tried their best and posted 405 in their first innings

Sachin Tendulkar’s 98 off 189 and Suresh Raina’s 86 off 128 remained the bright spot from India’s first innings. In the 2nd innings, Aussies posted 198 on the board and set India a target of 222. The opening and the middle order of the side collapsed like anything and there was a massive target ahead of the team. VVS Laxman was standing as a lone warrior from the team who handled the game like an ODI cricket.

The tense chase

He fetched significant 73 runs off 79 balls. Now the problem was, Laxman was giving a tough fight from one end but needed a little support from the opposite end where batters were coming and going in no time. India were eight wickets down for just 124 runs, and one mistake from the other end would have cost the game to the entire team. Star pacer Ishant Sharma appeared no less than a blessing on that day and stood there firmly to stitch an 81-run stand for the ninth wicket. When all hopes of the team appeared fading, he stitched a partnership brought the team close to the target before getting out.

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In his extraordinary support to VVS Laxman, Ishant Sharma scored crucial 31 runs from his bat. Pragyan Ojha came out to bat as the last man. Australia missed a simple run-out opportunity and then Ojha skirted one away to the legside to register a memorable win. India won the Test by one wicket.