Boon ensures there's no tie this time around

By K. Keerthivasan

CHENNAI, MARCH 17. Surely, the current Australian team would have learnt a thing or two had they watched their predecessor's performance at the Guru Nanak college grounds on Saturday. There was no tie this time around as the Australians of 1986 vintage tied the Indians down.

David Boon, who has been the architect of many wins, conjured yet another match-winning knock of 102 as Australia defeated India convincingly by seven wickets in a rematch of the 1986 tied Test, the proceeds of which went for a good cause - the Gujarat Relief Fund.

It was a nostalgic moment as Sunil Gavaskar and Krishnamachari Srikkanth went in to bat. Memories of the days these two contrasting, yet successful, openers dominated bowling attacks the world over came flashing to mind. And the duo did not disappoint the spectators today.

Gavaskar drove Bruce Reid delectably through the covers twice, then Srikkanth took charge smashing the same bowler off the backfoot to the ropes. Once they perished, it was left to Mohinder Amarnath (48) and Chandrakant Pandit to consolidate the innings. They did it admirably, with Pandit dropping anchor during his innings of 59.

Greg Matthews bowled as well as he did in the tied Test and came up with an astonishing return catch to send back Srikkanth.

Chasing a modest total of 222, Australia started on a bright note. As one of Australia's successful opening pair of all time - David Boon and Geoff Marsh - strode to the wicket. They put on 78 before Marsh got out.

Tasmanian Boon was at his belligerent best as he mercilessly belted the weak Indian bowling attack to all parts of the ground, including a six to the media enclosure. Dean Jones, who scored a memorable 210 in the tied Test, made a half-century in just 29 balls.

The following awards were given: best batsman: Dean Jones; best bowler: Greg Matthews; best fielder: Kiran More; best all- rounder: Allan Border.

The scores:

India: S. Gavaskar b Davis 21; K. Srikkanth c & b Matthews 27; M. Amarnath c Border b Bright 48; C. Pandit c & b Matthews 59; R. Shastri c Jones b Matthews 7; R. Binny b Border 13; K. More (not out) 17; C. Sharma b Matthews 8; Maninder Singh (not out) 13; Extras (lb-4, w-5) 9; Total (for seven wkts. in 40 overs) 222.

Fall of wickets: 1-48, 2-70, 3-133, 4- 160, 5-182, 6-186, 7-201.

Australia bowling: McDermott 6-0-35-0, Reid 6-1-36-0, Matthews 8- 0-39-4, Davis 8-0-29-1, Bright 8-0-44- 1; Border 4-0-35-1.

Australia: D. Boon c Maninder b Yadav 102; G. Marsh st. More b Amarnath 21; D. Jones st. More b Maninder 53; A. Border (not out) 28; G. Ritchie (not out) 9; Extras (w-7, nb-4) 11; Total (for three wkts. in 29 overs) 224.

Fall of wickets: 1-78, 2-139, 3-206.

India bowling: Chetan Sharma 2-0-11-0, Binny 3-0-19-0, Pandit 4-0-24-0, Amarnath 4-0-24-1, Shastri 2-0- 10-0, Sivaramakrishnan 2-0-28-0, Yadav 7-0-45-1; Srikkanth 2-0-30-0, Maninder 3-0-23-0, Raju Kulkarni 0.0-0-2-0.

David Boon, Australia's hero of the day, is congratulated by Krishnamachari Srikkanth.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Sport
Previous : India looks to deliver the knockout punch
Next     : Thorpe takes England to another series win