After the euphoria of Ahmedebad, it was misery in Mumbai for the Indian team. Fortunes were completely reversed as Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar cleaned up, taking 19 wickets between them, with Jimmy Anderson's second-ball lbw decision against Gambhir on the first morning the only seam success of the whole match!
Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh struggled most of the time and, while Ojha was again the most productive of India's 4-pronged spin attack, he failed to get the better of that famous left-arm 'bunny', Kevin Pietersen. The latter played the perfect innings in that respect, treating Ojha with immense respect before finally opening up more after reaching three figures. His 206-run stand with Alastair Cook was a superb partnership in every sense of the word. When one was defending, the other attacked, but overall, of course, it was the opener who anchored the whole affair, leaving KP to enjoy a free rein after he edged Ashwin to the 'keeper for 122.
KP's innings of 186 won the man of the match award, which was tough on Monty Panesar. The oft-discarded left-armer marked his return to the England side by taking eleven wickets, even if Swann's eight wickets came cheaper. Monty nabbed Sehwag, Tendulkar and Dhoni twice, although new star Pujara was Swann's double victim.
Across the Indian Ocean, South Africa managed to salvage an exciting draw against all the odds. Set 430 to win in almost five sessions, the bowlers were always going to be on top. In these days of T20-inspired strokeplay, it must have been extra difficult for players such as AB De Villiers to drop anchor and play for the team. At 45-4 on the fourth day, the Aussies must have been pretty darned optimistic! Then AB toiled for more than four hours to reach 33. His 89-run fifth wicket stand with debutant Faf Du Plessis lasted an extraordinary 68 overs! For the second time in the game, Jacques Kallis defied injury to deliver a vital innings but when he went, the tail-enders gve commendable support to Du Plessis.
It's not often that a duck is a positive contribution to a batting cause but Dale Steyn's 28-ball nought enabled Du Plessis to pick off some runs as well as defy the likes of Siddle, Hilfenhaus and the tireless Nathan Lyon who bowled no fewer than 31 maidens, conceding less than a run an over. Indeed, almost half the 148 overs bowled by Australia in the second innings were maidens, but Faf duly followed his initial 78 with an unbeaten 110. Despite Michael Clarke's historic double-hundred in that amazing Aussie first innings, it was the Saffer who nabbed the Player of the Match award, and rightly so. Two contrasting performances but Du PLessis showed he's more than just a useful T20 all-rounder in this Test match.
Now it's all-square going into the Perth decider, and Australia must wonder what they have to do to beat their opponents. The South Africans have been excellent with ther backs to the wall. Chokers? The India-England series also moves in to a third leg with honours even, but the momentum has swung back to the tourists. I reckon England now have the confidence and inspiration to crush Indian spirits further and win 3-1. I also reckon Mr Panesar might just be selected for Kolkata...
