Sweet 16 for Australia

6 January 2008

Michael Clarke traps RP Singh lbw, the second of three wickets in five balls © Getty Images

Australia equalled their own record of 16 consecutive Test wins after a stunning 122-run victory over India in Sydney.

Captain Ricky Ponting gave his bowlers 72 overs to bowl India out in their second innings - and they did so in thrilling fashion as part-time spinner Michael Clarke snapped up the last three wickets in an enthralling finish.

There were just eight minutes remaining in the second Test when Ishant Sharma edged Clarke to Mike Hussey at slip to end the game and give the hosts a 2-0 lead in the four-match series.

Hussey converted his overnight 87 into an unbeaten 145 earlier in the day while Andrew Symonds chipped in with 61.

Ponting eventually declared on 401 for seven, leaving India a notional 333 to win but, more realistically, needing to bat out the remainder of the day to salvage a draw.

Their hopes suffered a blow in the first over when opener Wasim Jaffer fell for a duck, edging Brett Lee to Clarke at third slip.

VVS Laxman and first-innings centurion Sachin Tendulkar fell cheaply as India slipped to 54 for three, and Rahul Dravid, who made a battling 38, was adjudged caught behind by Adam Gilchrist off Symonds when the ball came off his pad.

Stuart Clark removes Sachin Tendulkar for 12 as India slip to 54 for three © Getty Images

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There was more controversy when Sourav Ganguly departed, with the umpires in agreement that an edge off Lee carried to Clarke at second slip despite an element of doubt.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni and India captain Anil Kumble stabilised the innings with a seventh-wicket stand of 48 before the former was trapped leg before wicket playing no shot at Symonds.

Kumble was joined by Harbhajan Singh and it looked as though the experienced pair would see the tourists through to the close.

Ponting was running out of ideas and, as a last resort, turned to Clarke.

The move paid handsome dividends as the slow left-armer took three wickets in the space of five balls.

Harbhajan was the first to go, edging the first ball of Clarke's incredible second over to Hussey at first slip.

RP Singh was trapped in front first ball and Sharma was last man out, again falling victim to the Clarke-Hussey combination to spark wild celebrations among the Australia players.

They will go in search of their 17th successive Test win when the sides meet in Perth on January 16.