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India can thank its stars as they unexpectedly picked up a silver medal in a dramatic women's 4x400 m relay at the Commonwealth Games on Saturday.

Favorites Jamaica dropped the baton and England was disqualified as India finished at 2nd place behind Australia. England was the first team to cross the tape but was disqualified for a lane violation while South Africa also met the same fate. The Aussies picked up the gold after finishing second while India, who crossed the tape third, ended with a silver medal. Nigeria took the bronze and Jamaica ended fourth.

The hosts were in the thick of things as a set of mixed results came their way today. Craig Mottram tripped in the men's 1,500m and fell from what could have been a Bronze medal finish to ninth place. The Aussies flopped again in the men's 4 x 100m as they lost the baton at the last handover.

But Australia's Women a thletes did not disappoint and even made up for some of the day's debacles as they struck Gold in the women's 4 x 400m relay. Minnows India too were ecstatic after this unexpected silver medal.

Pittman, the individual champion, ran the first leg and gave Australia the initial lead with 80,000 people at the Melbourne Cricket Ground cheering her on. The next runner Caitlin Willis was outclassed by Jamaica's Novlene Williams giving back the advantage to Jamaica. But it was Shellene Williams who made the decisive mistake of dropping Baton. It took her a few seconds to find it and pass it on but the damage was done.

Things were looking bleak for India till the third change. Rajwinder Kaur led off and Chitra Soman followed as India looked at a fourth-to-sixth place finish. But events took an unexpected turn after Williams' mistake giving the Indians a great opportunity for a third place finish. Manjit Kaur in the penultimate leg swooped on the chance and made no mistake and finally, Pinki Parmanik, who ran the 800m semis, crossed the line third securing the Bronze medal. Things were to get better as joy turned to ecstasy for India following England's disqualification. From no-hopers to silver medalists, the day could not have gone any better for them. Despite Jamaica's Baton drop, the favorites returned right back into the game as Shellene Williams and anchor Shericka Williams came back to finish the race in fourth place.

The Australian squad ended winners in 3:28.66s while India were close behind in 3:29.57s. Nigeria timed 3:31.83s for third.