INDIA v AUSTRALIA 1956-57

The pitch took spin from the start and 35 of the 39 wickets fell to slow bowlers. Umrigar, sending in Australia, wasted little time in bringing on Ghulam Ahmed. The off-spinner took three wickets for three runs in 6.2 overs before he missed a return catch from Craig, who with Burge added 68 runs for the fourth wicket. Altogether, Ghulam Ahmed took seven wickets for 49 runs and India, having dismissed Australia for 177, seemed favourably placed. Rain overnight delayed the resumption by sixty-five minutes but all went well before the turf dried. Then the leg-breaks of Benaud began to bite and India were 41 runs behind when their first innings closed. Mankad joined with Ghulam Ahmed in worrying Australia in their second innings but valuable batting for three hours by Harvey plus bold hitting by the later batsmen meant that India required 231 runs to win. As in their first innings, India scored steadily until lunch, when the total was 74 for two. Then Benaud, helped by Burke with off-breaks, brought a speedy end to the game, the last five wickets falling while 15 runs were scored. Benaud gained match figures of eleven wickets for 105 runs.