Centurion Tendulkar leads Indian fightback

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New Delhi: Sachin Tendulkar's stupendous 124 not out orchestrated India's assault as they reached 309-5 at stumps on day one of the fourth Test against Australia. The 'Little Master', who blazed away to his 39th Test century, played the lone hand in the Indian innings as none of the other batsmen could make their starts count.

MS Dhoni was unbeaten on six off 54 balls along with Tendulkar as the duo put up 26 off 76 balls for the sixth wicket.

Tendulkar, in probably his last Test 'Down Under', launched an assault on the Aussie bowlers, smashing them to all corners of the picturesque Adelaide Oval.

The Mumbai batsman showed why he is considered a tour de force in world cricket as he bludgeoned 10 boundaries and three sixes in his belligerent essay. Tendulkar was particularly severe to Brad Hogg who was on the receiving end to some brutal treatment from the Indian mainstay.

Tendulkar along with VVS Laxman (51) shared a vital 126-run stand for the fifth wicket before a snorter from Brett Lee ended Laxman's tenure in the middle. The Hyderabad batsman, in an attempt to take evasive action to a short-pitched delivery, gloved the ball into the air. Gilchrist, who had dropped a sitter when Laxman was on 40 off the same bowler, this time made no mistake.

Lee and Hogg struck for Australia in the post-lunch session claiming Virender Sehwag (63) and Sourav Ganguly (seven). Both batsmen were unlucky to be dismissed. Sehwag departed soon after lunch edging a Lee delivery to the slips but replays showed the Aussie spearhead overstepping by a long margin.

Ganguly was adjudged leg-before to Hogg, a decision which was dubious to say the least as the ball struck the southpaw's front pad outside the line of the off-stump.

Laxman and Tendulkar then began their revival as the the Indian top order failed to capitalise on a batsman-friendly pitch at the Adelaide Oval.

In the first session of play, Mitchell Johnson claimed the scalps of makeshift opener Irfan Pathan (nine) and Rahul Dravid (18) as India scored 89-2 in the first session.

The twin jolt by Johnson set India back in an otherwise productive opening session which saw Sehwag reach a quick half-century.

After Anil Kumble had no hesitation in electing to bat first, India began at a brisk pace with Pathan donning the opener's role in the absence of Wasim Jaffer, who was replaced by off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. Pathan looked good in his brief stint until the southpaw played one away from the body and Gilchrist gloved the simple catch.

Dravid added 48 with Sehwag and looked set for a big one but Johnson had other plans. A sharp delivery outside the off-stump and the number three batsman nicked it to the slips where Ricky Ponting gulped the ball gratefully.

But Sehwag plundered six boundaries and kept the scoreboard moving through lusty blows doubled up with aggressive running between the wickets during his knock of 63 off 90 balls.

With Harbhajan back in the eleven, India decided to go for the kill with a rare five-bowler combination. The home side made two changes in their eleven. Hayden and Hogg replaced Chris Rogers and Shaun Tait.

It is 2-1 in a series that has seen it all. After India pulled things back in Perth, the visitors will be looking to draw level against the Aussies.

The teams:

India: Anil Kumble (capt), MS Dhoni (wk), Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, RP Singh, Ishant Sharma.

Australia: Ricky Ponting (capt), Adam Gilchrist (wk), Matthew Hayden, Phil Jaques, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Andrew Symonds, Brett Lee, Brad Hogg, Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clark.