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Photos: How the spinners wrapped the Test for Team India
Spinners R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja produced a mesmerising spell as India crushed a clueless Australia by an innings and 135 runs in less than three-and-a-half days to win the second Test and take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series in Hyderabad on Tuesday.
The match lasted only two hours on the fourth day, as it was an abject surrender by the Australian batsmen, who had no answer to the questions posed by Ashwin and Jadeja on a turning track at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium.
Photos: How the spinners wrapped the Test for Team India
The day started with Ishant Sharma dismissing Shane Watson in the third over. The lanky pacer had bowled a lot better in the series but never got close to getting a wicket.
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When he finally did get one, it was off a poor delivery.The ball was drifting down leg-side and Shane Watson, trying to glance it down fine leg, only gave Mahendra Singh Dhoni a catch.
Photos: How the spinners wrapped the Test for Team India
Australia captain Michael Clarke, who shoulders the bulk of the scoring responsibility due to the team's brittle line-up, announced his arrival at the crease with a six off Ravindra Jadeja.
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He came down the track to lift the left-arm spinner over long-off. However, Jadeja had the last laugh when he bowled a beauty to get rid of the rival skipper.
Photos: How the spinners wrapped the Test for Team India
Boosted by the prized scalp of Clarke, Jadeja was spitting fire and it was a matter of time before he disposed off the challenge of Ed Cowan (44).
The left-handed opener had faced 150 deliveries but never looked like getting settled. Jadeja bowled a faster one and Cowan rocked on the backfoot trying to play the square-cut.
Photos: How the spinners wrapped the Test for Team India
Jadeja's success with the ball also translated into a good show in the field as his direct throw found Moises Henriques (0) short of his ground.
Photos: How the spinners wrapped the Test for Team India
From 111 for six, it soon became 123 for seven as Ashwin got his third wicket with a wrong 'un as debutant Glenn Maxwell tried to flick it and was caught plumb in-front.
Photos: How the spinners wrapped the Test for Team India
Peter Siddle was snapped up by Virat Kohli in the slips off Jadeja, as India got their eighth wicket.
Photos: How the spinners wrapped the Test for Team India
Matthew Wade was Ashwin's fourth victim and the ninth wicket to fall.
The umpires then decided to extend the first session by 30 minutes as per norms to finish proceedings.
Photos: How the spinners wrapped the Test for Team India
And it ended soon after when Ashwin trapped tailender James Pattinson, who had failed to get off the mark despite facing as many as 27 deliveries.
When Ashwin dismissed Pattinson to get the final wicket, the 10,000-odd spectators erupted in joy. The celebrations in the Indian camp, however, were muted, as they only engaged in handshakes.