Australia falls to humiliating defeat

Published: 6:43PM Tuesday October 21, 2008 Source: AAP

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Australia spiralled to their worst defeat in nearly a decade on Tuesday as India wrapped up a 320-run victory in the second cricket Test at Mohali.
  
Resuming at 5-141 on the final day, the Australians slumped to 8-144 within three overs after paceman Zaheer Khan (3-71) grabbed three wickets in four balls.
  
Michael Clarke (69) added 50 with Mitchell Johnson (26) before debutant Amit Mishra (2-35) fittingly claimed the final two wickets to complete an outstanding debut after taking 5-71 in the first innings.
  
It was Australia's heaviest defeat since they lost by 10 wickets to the West Indies in Jamaica in 1999, and their heaviest in terms of runs since a 343-run thrashing at the hands of the West Indies at Bridgetown, Barbados, in 1991.
  
Only the most extreme of optimists would have given Australia a chance of surviving the day, yet the speed with which the tourists folded on the final morning was a surprise.
  
With the sixth ball of the day Zaheer gained a touch of reverse inswing to dismantle Brad Haddin's stumps as the batsman played crookedly back.
  
In his next over, Zaheer beat an out-of-his-depth Cameron White with away swing first ball, and repeated the trick second ball, but the slightly fuller length drew an outside edge that was easily taken by Dhoni.
  
Next ball, Lee was unable to get anywhere near a beautifully pitched away swinger that curved past the bat and uprooted the off stump.
  
Mitchell Johnson survived the hat-trick delivery and played a few smart strokes in the company of Clarke, in a stand that saved a some face.
  
However, Mishra entered the attack and soon had Johnson caught and bowled when an inside edge ballooned off his pad back to the bowler, and in his next over Mishra had Clarke caught at midwicket by a jubilant Virender Sehwag. 
  
Australian captain Ricky Ponting said his team had been outplayed in every department.
  
"Right from the first morning India were nice and aggressive on a good batting wicket on the first day," he said.
  
"They took the momentum away from us very early and we've been under pressure and fighting to get our way back into the game form then.
  
"They've totally outplayed us in almost every aspect - batting, bowling, and fielding."

India take a 1-0 lead into the third Test of the four-match series, to be played in Delhi from October 29. 

AUSTRALIA'S WORST DEFEATS BY RUNS SINCE 1995
  
Lost by 320 runs - versus India, second Test at PCA Stadium, Mohali, October 2008
Lost by 225 runs - versus England, fifth Test at SCG, Sydney, January 2003
Lost by 179 runs - versus India, first Test, at M Chindambaram Stadium, Chennai, March 1998  
  
AUSTRALIA'S WORST DEFEATS BY INNINGS/WICKETS SINCE 1995
  
Lost by an innings and 219 runs - versus India, second Test at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, March 1998
Lost by ten wickets - versus West Indies, second Test at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica, March 1999
Lost by nine wickets - versus England, first Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham, June 1997   
   
AUSTRALIA'S ALL TIME WORST DEFEATS BY RUNS

Lost by 675 runs - versus England, first Test at the Exhibition Ground, Brisbane, December 1928
Lost by 408 runs - versus West Indies, third Test at Adelaide Oval, January 1980
Lost by 343 runs - versus West Indies, fourth Test at Bridgetown, Barbados, April 1991
Lost by 338 runs - versus England, third Test at Adelaide Oval, January 1933
Lost by 323 runs - versus South Africa, fourth Test at St George's Park, Port Elizabeth, March 1970
Lost by 322 runs - versus England, first Test at the Gabba, Brisbane, December 1936
Lost by 320 runs - versus India, second Test at PCA Stadium, Mohali, October 2008

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