Memories of Eden 2001 return

MOHALI: India pulled off one of their most memorable Test wins on Tuesday. When the top order came a cropper chasing 216, even the militantly optimistic would not have bet on the last two wickets notching up the 92 runs still required, especially with the Aussies breathing fire sensing a victory.
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The come-from-behind, fairytale victory was wrought by the battling, imperious blade of Laxman (battling back spasms), with a dogged Ishant Sharma (on painkillers for a dodgy leg) playing second fiddle.Memories of Eden and Adelaide flashed through the mind as Laxman and Ishant battled on and on, refusing to yield. India against Australia is now clearly the most anticipated contest in Test cricket.
During his epic 153-minute knock, Laxman lost his cool only once, when Pragyan Ojha didn't go for a single in the penultimate ball of the 57th over. That apart, his intensity was searing. When Pragyan Ojha finally worked Mitchell Johnson for two leg byes to notch up the winning runs, the scenes of jubilation matched a World Cup-winning effort.
Laxman, unbeaten on 73, couldn't erase the grin and hurtled into coach Gary Kirsten's arms screaming, "What a match, what a match, Gary."
Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting said it was one the best Tests he had played in. Zaheer Khan, man of the match for his eight wickets, put it best when he said India had "just enough" to pull through.
This was probably the toughest match-winning effort from Laxman (79b, 8x4), as he was battling severe back pain and didn't have a single recognised batsman for company for much of his knock. Ishant proved ideal foil, helping add 81 after India were reduced to 124/8 before falling victim to a dubious LBW decision.
Laxman was uncertain to bat till Monday evening. The fact that he came out in the middle itself was a remarkable achievement.
However, when the man with a second-innings average of 56.21 against Australia joined Sachin Tendulkar in the middle after Zaheer Khan's dismissal, the match seemed to be in India's control.
In the 26th over, Tendulkar hit Nathan Hauritz down the track for four while Laxman pierced the infield with impeccable timing, striking Hauritz for successive boundaries. As the total reached 100, the pressure suddenly shifted to the visitors. But the script changed too.
Three overs later, Tendulkar (38; 64b, 5x4) arched back to hit a Doug Bollinger short ball over the slip cordon. But there was not much room and the ball went straight to the waiting hands of Mike Hussey at gully.