Australia resist as Test heads towards exciting finale
Posted on Oct 12, 2008 at 09:17 | Updated Oct 13, 2008 at 00:49
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Bangalore: Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and seamer Ishant Sharma bowled India back in the game after reducing Australia to 193-5 — an overall lead of 263 runs — at stumps on the penultimate day of the first Test for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Sunday.
However, an unbeaten stand of 65 runs for the sixth wicket between Shane Watson (batting on 32) and Brad Haddin (28 not out) may have saved the day for the Aussies and the match now looks like petering out to a draw unless the Indians crumble in their second innings.
Despite the Indians being handicapped by captain Anil Kumble's inability to bowl till the 54th over due to a sore shoulder, the Indian bowlers stuck to their task admirably by getting rid of three top order batsmen for the addition of 29 runs after Simon Katich (34) and Michael Hussey (31) had added 50 runs for the third wicket.
Kumble came on the field only after his counterpart Ricky Ponting was out in the 23rd over but waited till the 54th over to bring himself on despite Harbhajan getting appreciable turn from the pavilion end. Perhaps the skipper did not have the confidence to bowl as he is yet to take a wicket in the match.
With Australia — who had secured a vital 70-run first innings lead — poised to get 100 runs on the board, Harbhajan foxed Katich to lob the ball to VVS Laxman at short point after the batsman had made 34. Soon after Ishant had Michael Clarke caught by Virender Sehwag with a subtle change in pace, getting his third wicket in this fashion in the match.
This was perhaps India's most successful passage of play, as off-spinner Harbhajan Singh produced a superb doosra, which spitefully turned into Michael Hussey to crash into the off-stump after the batsman had resisted 72 balls for his 31, as the visitors looked to be in danger at 128-5.
But for India's sloppy fielding — India missed a slew of sharp catches as well as run outs — Australia put pressure by running their singles and twos.
Kumble failed to collect Zaheer's throw at the bowler's end with Watson well short of the crease with their total on 187-5 before a confident shout for leg before by Zaheer was turned down by umpire Rudi Koertzen against the same batsman.
Earlier, fast bowlers Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma struck once each to reduce the Aussies to 74-2 before tea.
First to go after lunch was Matthew Hayden, who was trapped leg before for 13 by Zaheer, before first innings century maker Ricky Ponting fell to Ishant when he was caught at short mid-wicket by Laxman after he had added 28 runs for the second wicket with Simon Katich.
The Australian openers made a cautious start to finish off the first sesson on nine for no loss after a splendid unbeaten half-century by Zaheer Khan enabled India to a respectable score of 360 in their first innings.
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