Australian seamers leave India reeling by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Ground:	Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali
Scorecard:	India v Australia
Player:	SR Watson, I Sharma
Event:	Australia in India 2010/11

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DateLine: 4th October 2010

 

The Australian side led by the pacers gained the upper hand over India on the fourth day of the first Test. The home team made 55 for four in their second innings at stumps on day four, still needing 161 runs for what now seems an improbable win.

 

Sachin Tendulkar was unbeaten on 10 and giving him company was Zaheer Khan on five. Ben Hilfenhaus was the pick of the Australian bowlers with figures of three for 22 while Doug Bollinger got the other wicket. Earlier, the Australian second innings folded at 192, giving them an overall lead of 215.

 

The morning session saw a constant shift in the balance of power. If Australia dominated from the start, India recovered lost ground towards the end, with the quick wickets. Watson was on the attack from the word go while Katich played the support role well. Ishant Sharma got the opener to drag one onto his stumps. The first wicket had yielded 87 runs for Australia in quick time, thereby helping them to a solid foundation. Ricky Ponting survived just four balls, hit the first to the fence and the fourth straight to Suresh Raina at backward square-leg.

 

Ishant then had Clarke caught behind as he brought India back into the match with his effort. The second session began on a tentative note for the visitors with Michael Hussey surviving a loud leg before appeal. Katich and Hussey put together 42 runs for the fourth wicket in close to 20 overs before the former was dismissed, Pragyan Ojha providing India the breakthrough by having him caught behind. Hussey was adjudged leg before to Harbhajan. Harbhajan struck again to remove North and Australia were staring down the barrel at tea.

 

In the day's final session, the Indian bowlers put in an inspired display to dismiss Australia cheaply in their second innings. The visitors made 192 (in 60.5 overs) for an overall lead of 215.

 

India got off a worst possible start in their second innings. Chasing 216 to win, the hosts lost Gautam Gambhir in Ben Hilfenhaus' fourth ball. Rahul Dravid asserted himself briefly, first with a boundary off Bollinger and then two in a Hilfenhaus over. But the former soon had him caught behind.

 

In came Tendulkar, and he started with a boundary. However, Hilfenhaus dented the Indian chances considerably when he had Sehwag caught by Hussey at gully. India had been reduced to 48 for three and then 48 for four with Suresh Raina's (0) dismissal two overs later - caught at slips by North off Hilfenhaus.