There were only eight minutes of the final hour of this second Test remaining when Australia took the last India wicket to equal their own world record of 16 consecutive Test wins. India were on the brink of saving the match when Ricky Ponting, with what he said was “a last throw of the dice”, called upon the part-time spin of Michael Clarke, who took three wickets in his second over to leave India devastated in defeat.

A memorable if controversial victory gave Australia a 2-0 lead in the four-match series and means that they have retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Their players’ riotous celebrations as they left the field showed how much the win meant. Ponting said there were parallels with the celebrated victory against the odds in Adelaide against England 13 months ago, adding that “it’s as good a feeling here as it was there”.

Amid the euphoria, however, there must have been some sheepish grins. Apart from some dreadful umpiring in this match, without which Australia would not have won, aspects of their onfield demeanour left a sour taste. When Anil Kumble, the India captain, stated afterwards that “there was only one team playing in the spirit of the game”, he had a point.

Last night, Harbhajan Singh was banned for three Tests after Mike Procter, the match referee, decided that the bowler had racially abused Andrew Symonds. Procter confirmed the punishment after a 6½-hour hearing. Harbhajan denied the charge and will appeal and such are relations between the teams there was a suggestion that the Indians had considered cutting short the tour. In return, India filed a complaint against Brad Hogg, claiming that the left-arm wrist spinner used abusive language.

On the pitch, it was no better. In their win-at-all-costs approach, the Australians went too far yesterday. Ponting claimed a catch over which he did not have full control and the close catchers’ theatrical appeal, led by Adam Gilchrist, for a caught behind off Rahul Dravid’s pad incensed the India camp. Steve Bucknor wrongly gave Dravid out, a crucial decision that opened up India’s lower order to Australia.

Bucknor had one of his worst matches as an umpire and, at 61, may be nearing the end of a distinguished career. His decision not to give Symonds out caught behind on 30 on the first day, despite the batsman getting a thick edge, was the first and most significant of several errors. Symonds made 162 not out.

Chetan Chauhan, the India team manager, said his players were “agitated and upset” by the umpiring. He revealed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India will be lodging a strong protest with the ICC against the “incompetent umpires here”, in the hope that they will not officiate again in the series.

Bucknor is due to stand in the third Test in Perth, starting on January 16. Mark Benson, who had a good match in Melbourne, did not endear himself to the Indians for rejecting what looked a plumb leg-before appeal against Mike Hussey on Saturday. On 20 at the time, Hussey went on to make an unbeaten 145, enabling Ponting to declare with a lead of 332 and a minimum of 72 overs in which to bowl out India.

Although Stuart Clark had quickly removed V. V. S. Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar, forcing the latter to play on, it did not look as if Australia could win until Dravid was fourth out in the 34th over. Yuvraj Singh fell in the same over and when Sourav Ganguly was sixth out in the 41st to a fine low slip catch, India were in the mire.

Kumble nevertheless played a heroic captain’s innings, supported by Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan, to usher his team to 210 for seven after 70 overs. There were three, possibly four, remaining, however, because Australia had rushed through their overs in the final hour.

The pitch had been offering turn and bounce for Symonds’s off breaks and would do the same for Clarke’s left-arm spin. Harbhajan gloved one that bounced, R. P. Singh was beaten by one that straightened and Ishant Sharma, the last man, gave Hussey a second catch at slip.

India’s frustration was reflected in an unseemly exchange at the post-match press conference between Ponting and the Indian media, who later complained that they had been “humiliated” by him. Kumble rightly opined that a fair result would have been a draw, adding that “it really hurts when you lose like this”.

Close encounters: other occasions when it went down to the wire

1960 Australia, needing 233 to beat West Indies in Brisbane, lose their last wicket to a run-out with the scores level. The first tied Test.

1986 India, needing 348 to beat Australia in Madras, lose their last wicket with the scores level. The second tied Test.

1993 West Indies beat Australia by one run in Adelaide to level the series at 1-1 when Australia had a series victory within their grasp. West Indies win the final Test in Perth.

2005 England beat Australia by two runs at Edgbaston. Stephen Harmison has Mike Kasprowicz caught behind to give England their most memorable victory in a home Test. England level the series and go on to reclaim the Ashes.

1982 England beat Australia by three runs in Melbourne. Jeff Thomson edges Ian Botham to second slip, where Chris Tavaré spills the chance, only for Geoff Miller, at first slip, to catch the rebound.

1968 Six minutes remain when Derek Underwood has John Inverarity leg-before to bowl Australia out for 125 and level the series for England in the final Ashes Test at the Oval.