Comment: Dileep Premachandran

Zaheer Khan made short work of the Australian tail as India secured a 320-run victory in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar series.

The left-arm paceman claimed three wickets in his first two overs as Australia crashed from 141 for five overnight to 144 for eight.

Amit Mishra, the India leg-spinner, completed the rout by picking up the last two wickets as Australia, chasing a target of 516 for an improbable win, were eventually bowled out for 195.

The defeat was Australia's heaviest against India since 1977 and their seventh-heaviest by runs ever, eclipsing the 307-run loss to South Africa in 1969-70. It is only the second Test loss since the 2005 Ashes series and is their most comprehensive since the turn of the century.

Zaheer ended a blossoming partnership between Brad Haddin and Michael Clarke by bowling Haddin with the last ball of his first over. Just one run was added to their sixth wicket stand, already worth 83 overnight, when Haddin was bowled by one which came back slightly off the pitch. Haddin failed to add to his overnight score of 37.

Zaheer struck twice again off consecutive deliveries in his second over, first removing Cameron White and then Brett Lee. White traded flash for prudence, slashing at an away going delivery and only edging to wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Lee was beaten by one which moved slightly off the seam, knocking back off stump as the tail-ender shaped to defend. Mitchell Johnson saved the hat-trick by playing forward and defending solidly. He briefly held up India's charge, putting on 50 runs with Clarke for the ninth wicket and in the process showing runs could still be had from the fifth day's pitch. Johnson struck four boundaries in his 26 before offering a simple return catch to leg spinner Mishra.

"Overall it was the perfect game for us," Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who stood in as captain for the injured Anil Kumble, said. "We got the perfect start after winning the toss and we were up to the mark in all departments."

Ricky Ponting, the Australia captain, said his line-up lost the ascendancy on the opening day. "Right from the first morning India were aggressive and took the momentum away from us. We've been under pressure and fighting from the start. They deserved to win, they outplayed us in every aspect."

The third Test starts in Delhi on October 29.