BANGALORE: Debutant Cheteshwar Pujara proved an unlikely hero as India thrashed Australia by seven wickets in the second and final Test Wednesday to sweep the series 2-0. Pujara hit a fluent 72 as the host, set 207 runs to win on a wearing wicket, cruised home soon after tea on the fifth and final day at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. Veteran Sachin Tendulkar, who hit a double-century in the first innings, remained unbeaten on 53 as India enhanced their reputation as the world's No. 1 Test side. Ricky Ponting's Australia, preparing for next month's start of the Ashes series at home against England, slipped to fifth place behind India, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the Englishmen. India followed its dramatic one-wicket win in the first Test in Mohali last week to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in front of some 20,000 jubilant home fans. Tendulkar stamped India's superiority by smashing off-spinner Nathan Hauritz for two consecutive sixes just before the tea interval. The world batting record holder was named both the man of the match and the player of the series for notching up 403 runs in four innings at an average of 134.33. “I don't count. Let the others count. I just want to continue scoring,” Tendulkar, 37, said when asked about his awesome record this year in which he has already hit six centuries. “This series was a fantastic one for the entire team. Pujara showed tremendous character and his partnership with Murali Vijay was very crucial one.” Pujara and Vijay put on 72 for the second wicket to revive India after the accomplished Virender Sehwag was dismissed in the third over for seven. Sehwag edged Ben Hilfenhaus to wicketkeeper Tim Paine, one delivery after hitting a four to the point boundary. Pujara, who was promoted to No. 3 in place of Rahul Dravid, then added 57 for the third wicket with Tendulkar before he was bowled by Hauritz. The 22-year-old, awarded a Test cap only because Venkatsai Laxman was injured, hit seven boundaries during his two-hour stint at the crease. A disappointed Ponting admitted his team was outplayed by the host. “We have played reasonably good Test cricket in the series, but we were outplayed,” the Australian captain said. “We needed to get a few early wickets today, we got one, but Pujara and Vijay batted well. The crowd here have been fantastic. We would like to thank the crowd for their love and support for Test cricket.” Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni also paid tribute to the large number of fans who turned up for the match on all five days. But Dhoni rued his bad luck with the toss which he has lost nine times in succession in Test matches. “As a captain I keep losing tosses which means the bowlers have to come in and bowl on flat tracks,” he said. “But they have bowled really well. In both games, the first innings was high scoring and it changed in the second innings. In India you can lose a Test in two sessions. You need to play well on all the five days.” Australia, starting the day with a lead of 185 runs with three wickets in hand, was earlier all out for 223 in its second innings an hour into the morning session. Zaheer Khan and left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha finished with three wickets each, while Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh claimed two each. India and Australia will now play a three-match one-day series starting in Kochi on Oct. 17. – Agence France
