Australia overcame a gallant fightback from India to win a nail-biting five setter and clinch the second Commonwealth Volleyball Championship in Kolkata on Saturday.
The final scoreline read 25-18 25-16 24-26 20-25 15-11 in favour of the men from Down Under.
The Australians won the first two sets convincingly before the Indians scripted a remarkable comeback by taking the next two, as the large crowd at the Netaji Indoor stadium savoured every moment of the ding-dong battle.
However, the Aussies regrouped and claimed the decider by keeping their composure during crucial points.
Pakistan won third position getting past South Africa 25-10 23-25 25-21 25-21 in the play-off.
A festive atmosphere prevailed at the venue as a crowd of 8000 turned up with conches and bugles. The Tricolour fluttered from various points in the galleries.
The Aussies not only avenged their group league loss to the hosts, but also bagged a cheque for Rs four lakh. The Indians took the runners-up booty of Rs two lakh, but their excellent display also earned them a prize of Rs five lakh from West Bengal Sports Minister Subhas Chakraborty.
The Aussies maintained a constant lead in the opening set, blocking the Indian forays and displaying great panache in finding gaps in the rival defence.
The visitors were ahead 8-6 at the first technical time out and consolidated their position with a four point lead (16-12) at the second before wrapping up the set in 21 minutes.
The Indians tried to catch up in the early stages of the second set with a slender 8-7 lead. But the Kangaroos regained the momentum and conceded just one more point on way to seizing a commanding 18-8 lead.
The overwhelming domination of the Aussies continued as the Indians, particularly Gurchand Singh, saw his smashes deserting him under pressure.
The tourists pocketed the set in 26 minutes to open up a 2-0 lead, but the script changed completely as the Indians, desperate to retrieve their position, played their hearts out.
Levelling the score at 13-13, the Indians fought a fiery battle for supremacy as the two rivals went neck and neck.
