|
|
| Haddin-Watson extend Aussie lead to 263, 193/5 at stumps Bangalore, Oct 12: The Oz had to fight for their runs on the 4th day of the first Test at Bangalore’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium, courtesy Indian pace attack. From a precarious 128 for the loss of five wickets, an unbeaten 65 runs partnership between Brad Haddin and Shane Watson late in the day helped the Kangaroos to gain some momentum. At stumps, the visitors were 193 for 5, a healthy lead of 263 runs. Zaheer Khan emerged to be the man of the moment for India when he, with his unbeaten feat of 57 runs, helped the home team stretch their first innings score to 360 runs. Having already registered a five wicket haul in the first innings, he struck again to dismiss Matthew Hayden. Thereafter, the Aussies’ day proceeded on a dismal note; the runs were difficult to come by as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. The deteriorating Chinnaswamy track helped Ishant Sharma and Harbhajan Singh as they enjoyed their share of two wickets each to send Ponting, Clarke, Hussey and Simon Katich back to the pavilion. The pace-spin combo did the trick for India as the duo partnered to spell trouble for Australia. The lanky pacer dismissed Ricky Ponting when he had the Aussie captain caught at short mid wicket into the safe hands of Virender Sehwag. Sharma, then foxed vice captain Michael Clarke with a slower delivery and had him caught at point by VVS Laxman for 6 runs. This was Ishant’s second wicket of the innings. After Ishant struck twice in the innings, Bhajji came back spitting venom and sent back the consistent Michael Hussey (31), also known as Mr Cricket. The top spinner bamboozled the southpaw and he could only hear the rattling of his furniture. He scored 31. Prior to that, he had got rid of the very slow Simon Katich, who could score 34 runs off 140 deliveries. Resuming at the overnight score of 313 for eight, the Indian lower order continued its stirring fightback by holding up for 85 minutes before the innings folded for 360. Zaheer, who shared an 80-run eighth wicket partnership with Harbhajan to save the blushes for India yesterday, top-scored with 57 not out to compliment his five-wicket haul in the Australian first innings. Zaheer overtaking Harbhajan as the top scorer was the highlight of the morning session on the fourth day. The feisty left-arm pacer carried on with his fine knock from yesterday to notch up his second Test fifty from 106 balls, when he took a two off Mitchell Johnson. His previous highest score in Test cricket was 75 against Bangladesh when he added 100 runs for the last wicket in the company of Sachin Tendulkar in Dhaka against Bangladesh in 2004. This morning, he lost his overnight partner, skipper Anil Kumble, who could add only five to the team score of 343 but shared a crucial 31-run stand for the ninth wicket to inch India's first innings total closer to Australia's 430 on a difficult pitch. Mitchell Johnson was the most successful bowler for the Aussies with figures of 4/70 while all-rounder Shane Watson picked up three wickets for 45 and Michael Clarke claiming two Indian wickets. The 52 extras conceded by Australia, their most against India, also helped swell the Indian total. The Australian second innings started on a disastrous note as they lost opener Matthew Hayden (13) and captain Ricky Ponting (17) cheaply much to the delight of the Indians. Hayden was trapped leg before by a late swinging delivery from Zaheer soon after lunch. The Indian medium pacer had also accounted for the towering opener's dismissal in the first innings. Just before Hayden's dismissal India had a chance to see the back of Katich, but Gambhir at short leg reacted late to an inside edge off Harbhajan. First innings centurion, Ponting fell to a good length angled delivery from young pacer Ishant with VVS Laxman taking a low catch at short midwicket. Indian captain Anil Kumble, who was suffering from a sore shoulder, took the field in the 23rd over of Australia's second innings immediately after the dismissal of Ponting. Kumble was applied ice packs by team physio and he did not bowl in the post lunch session but introduced Virender Sehwag from the BEML end for a breakthrough replacing Harbhajan, who bowled a tight spell of 12 overs. The Chinnaswamy track became a lot more difficult after the tea break with the odd ball jumping awkwardly or keeping low. After being at 74 for two at the tea break, the visitors suddenly slumped to 128 for five with katich (34), Hussey (31) and Clarke (6) falling in quick succession. Katich failed to keep an awkwardly rising delivery off Harbhajan down and offered a simple catch to VVS Laxman at forward short leg while Hussey was bowled by a 'doosra' by the same bowler. courtesy |
