Comfortable win for Australia - Scorecard
Melbourne, Dec 30: Australia levelled the four-Test series with a 9-wicket win over India in the third cricket Test at the Melbourne cricket ground here today. Chasing a small victory target on the fifth and final day, Australia romped home with Matthew Hayden scoring a pulsating 53 not out, while Ricky Ponting remained unbeaten on 31.

The series is tied 1-1 after India's win in the second Test at Adelaide and the drawn first Test in Brisbane. The decisive fourth Test in Sydney starts on Friday. Ajit Agarkar had Justin Langer leg before wicket for two, but India's hopes of repeating the 1981 glory at the same venue when they bundled out Australia for 83 on the fifth day, quickly faded once the record breaking Hayden began to play his attacking shots.

Hayden, with a first innings under his belt, survived a loud shot for leg before off Ashish Nehra, but from that moment, he flicked the left-arm seamer off his pad to the square leg fence and scored boundaries at will. The left-hander pulled a short pitched delivery from Agarkar in front of square leg and then drove Nehra again through the cover for a scorching four.

The introduction of leg-spinner Anil Kumble failed to produce a break through, although there were a couple of edgy moments. A huge leg break spun past Hayden's front foot and beat the keeper for agonising four byes down the leg side. Kumble then induced an outside edge from Hayden with a well-deceived googly but the ball bisected the keeper and the fielder at first slip.

But Hayden soon asserted himself when he picked three couples and then drove Kumble through the offside. Ponting at the other end was keeping the scoreboard ticking with sharp singles. At times, his running between the wickets was too cheeky but the Indians failed to hit the stumps. Ponting, man of the match for his second successive double century in the first innings, finally swept Kumble for a four to signal Australia's win. The few thousands of spectators who had packed the Southern Stand to give captain Steve Waugh a fond farewell on his final appearance at the MCG stood up to give the home team a standing ovation. Scorecard (Agencies)

Published: Friday, December 30, 2003

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