Australia crush India to take 2-0 lead

Australia crushed India by an innings and 68 runs in the second Test in Sydney on Friday to take a 2-0 lead in the series and leave Sachin Tendulkar still waiting for his 100th international ton. The home side's big breakthrough came when Tendulkar was dismissed for 80 by man-of-the-match Michael Clarke, precipitating a collapse as India saw their chance of winning a maiden series in Australia slip away.
Clarke, who became only the sixth Australian to score a Test triple century on Thursday, capped a splendid all-round performance when he coaxed an edge off Tendulkar to Michael Hussey at slip after an innings lasting 141 balls. Tendulkar's dismissal triggered a clatter of wickets with V.V.S. Laxman (66), M.S. Dhoni (2) and Virat Kohli (9) following in the next seven overs to expose the tailend to the Australian bowlers and inevitable defeat.
Ravi Ashwin was the last man out, caught in the deep by Nathan Lyon for 62 to give Ben Hilfenhaus five wickets as India were all out for 400 in their second innings. "It's the first series (when) I've been full-time captain in Australia in front of my home fans and the Australian public, so it's important I stand up," Clarke said.
"I didn't have a great summer (Ashes series) last year, so I'm really happy that I was able to contribute and put in a really good performance this Test match." "I think our execution was very good," Clarke added. "I thought the way we bowled in the first innings set the Test match up for us. "To be able to take 10 wickets on a really flat wicket out there... they deserve a lot of credit. They continue to perform in any conditions which is very pleasing for us."
It was Australia's fifth win in 10 Tests against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground while India, ranked second in Test cricket, have now lost their past six away Tests. Tendulkar looked in good nick but fell in the 79th over when he was drawn forward to Clarke's part-time left-arm spin and got an outside edge off wicketkeeper Brad Haddin's gloves to Hussey at first slip.
With him went India's remote hopes of denying Australia victory after they lost the opening Test of the four-match series in Melbourne by 122 runs. Tendulkar has been stranded on 99 Test and one-day international centuries since scoring 111 against South Africa in the World Cup in March. His last Test century was 146 against South Africa in Cape Town a year ago.
Hilfenhaus clipped Laxman's off-stump with a magnificent swinging delivery and then caught and bowled Indian captain Dhoni for two. Kohli looked a little unfortunate to be given out leg before wicket off James Pattinson for nine to leave the tourists seven wickets down and into their tail.
Zaheer Khan hit out lustily with five fours and a six in his 35 off 26 balls before he was caught by Shaun Marsh off Siddle nearing tea. Ishant Sharma (11) and Ashwin (62) were the last wickets to fall after tea. Earlier, opener Gautam Gambhir was dismissed for 83 when he was caught at point by David Warner off the second ball of Peter Siddle's first over of the day.
India were always looking down the barrel after conceding a massive 468-run first innings lead following their mediocre 191 on Tuesday's first day. "We didn't put enough runs on the board. To win Test matches taking 20 wickets is very important but also we need to give that cushion, having those extra runs on the board so that the bowlers can plan the opposition out," Dhoni said.
"We have lost the chance of winning the series but still with two more Test matches to go we can level the series so that's what we're looking to do." Clarke declared Australia's first innings at 659 for four with Ricky Ponting and Hussey also scoring centuries with seven and a half sessions left to bowl out India.
-- The third Test starts at Perth's WACA ground next Friday.
SCOREBOARD
-- India first innings 191 (M.Dhoni 57 not out; J. Pattinson
-- 4-43, B. Hilfenhaus 3-51, P.Siddle 3-55)
-- Australia first innings 659-4 dec (M. Clarke 329 not out, M. Hussey 150 not out; R.Ponting 134; Z. Khan 3-122)

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India second innings (overnight 114-2)

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G. Gambhir c Warner b Siddle        83

V. Sehwag c Warner b Hilfenhaus      4

R. Dravid b Hilfenhaus              29

S. Tendulkar c Hussey b Clarke      80

V. Laxman b Hilfenhaus              66

V. Kohli lbw Pattinson               9

M. Dhoni c & b Hilfenhaus            2

R. Ashwin c Lyon b Hilfenhaus       62

Z. Khan c Marsh b Siddle            35

I. Sharma lbw Lyon                  11

U. Yadav not out                     0

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Extras: (b-6, lb-3, w-2, nb-8)      19

Total: (all out, 110.5 overs)      400

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