India v Australia - Fourth Test

Eden Gardens, Kolkata

India: SM Gavaskar, +FM Engineer, M Amarnath, VS Hazare, PR Umrigar, *MAK Pataudi, Kapil Dev, M Prabhakar, EAS Prasanna, BS Bedi, BS Chandrasekhar.
Australia: WM Woodfull, WM Lawry, DG Bradman, *AR Border, SR Waugh, KR Miller, +IA Healy, AK Davidson, IWG Johnson, RR Lindwall, WJ O'Reilly.

Debuts: IWG Johnson (AUS)
Umpires: HD Bird (ENG) & DR Shepherd (ENG)
Toss: India

After their series-levelling victory in Delhi, Australia were dealt the double blow of losing both Richie Benaud and Dennis Lillee to injury ahead of the decider in Kolkata, but by close of play on day one at Eden Gardens they were very much back in the ascendancy as India's batting fell apart in dramatic fashion. Gavaskar and Engineer provided a reasonably solid start, but from the relative comfort of 66-1 the innings disintegrated just as it had done in Delhi. Davidson ripped out the middle order with a spell of 3-0 in 9 balls, and then Ian Johnson took three cheap tail end wickets on debut to close the deal and dismiss the Indians for a shameful 127, a score that could have been even lower had umpires Bird and Shepherd been in a more benevolent mood.

Australia continued to power on when they batted, with Bradman and stand-in skipper Border once more combining for a sizeable partnership, 182 on this occasion. Border, who was dropped on 24 by the recalled Hazare, again missed out on three figures, but Bradman raised a super century off just 110 balls, and although the innings fell away upon his dismissal, a final total of 406 was a far more accurate reflection of the nature of the pitch and gave the tourists a 279 run lead.

India now had three days in which to mount what would be a remarkable recovery, and an opening stand of 101 between Gavaskar and Engineer gave the hosts every chance of mounting such a comeback. Engineer raised his fifty with a huge straight six off Johnson, but he played on against O'Reilly off the last ball before lunch, and Australia spent the rest of day three slowly chipping away at India's resistance. By stumps the deficit had been reduced to 21, Gavaskar having batted defiantly once again for 71, and at 258-5 it was now all down to Umrigar and Kapil Dev if India were going to be able to set the Australians anything remotely challenging.

Kapil Dev (19) edged Miller into the slips in just the second over of the fourth day though, and when a Davidson outswinger finally cleaned up Umrigar for an excellent 81 it was effectively game, set and match to Australia. India's final total of 316 set Australia a nominal 38 for victory, and the out of form Woodfull was the only casualty as Lawry and Bradman secured the win with more than four sessions still to play. Victory in the Test also brought Australia victory in the series and they now move up into second place in the rankings whilst India drop to sixth after losing their last three series at home.

1st & 2nd innings scorecards
(click to enlarge)

Scores
IND 1st Inns 127 (Davidson 4-37)
AUS 1st Inns 406 (Bradman 146, Border 78, Woodfull 59, Miller 48; Chandrasekhar 4-100)
IND 2nd Inns 316 (Umrigar 81, Gavaskar 71, Engineer 57)
AUS 2nd Inns 38-1

AUSTRALIA WON BY 9 WICKETS


Man of the Match: AK Davidson