India beat Aus by 7 wkts, script 1st series whitewash

India completed their first ever series whitewash of Australia as Sachin Tendulkar led them to a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over the visitors in the second and final cricket Test here today.

Tendulkar (53 not out) added a half century to his first innings double ton and capitalised on the foundation laid by debutant Cheteshwar Pujara (72) as India easily surpassed the target of 207 in the final session of the last day here.

Tendulkar hit the winning runs, a two, off Nathan Hauritz half-an-hour into the final session to trigger wild celebrations at the Indian camp and among the Chinnaswamy Stadium crowd.

Rahul Dravid remained unbeaten on 21 and shared 61 runs with Tendulkar from 16 overs for the unbroken fourth wicket.

With the back-to-back victories, having won the first Test at Mohali by a narrow one wicket, India took the two-match series 2-0 though the Border-Gavaskar Trophy had already been in their bag.

With the win in the exciting Test, India strengthened their position at the top of ICC Test rankings while Australia were pushed down to fifth.

For Australia, this was the first time after 1982 that they have been handed a series whitewash by the opposition.

They had lost 0-3 in their 1982 Test tour of Pakistan. Ricky Ponting will also have to wait for Australia's first Test victory against India under his leadership.

Chasing 207 for a victory in a minimum of 77 overs on a deteriorating track, India lost opener Virender Sehwag (7) cheaply but debutant Pujara and first innings centurion Murali Vijay held the fort admirably by sharing 72 runs from 13 overs for second wicket to take India on victory path.

Later, the two senior most batsmen Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid combined for to take India to victory in the Test dominated by Tendulkar's sixth double hundred and stamp their superiority over Australia. At tea break, India needed just 22 runs for a win.