An uphill task for Aussies
Sunday, 19 October 2008
Australia face an uphill battle to save the second Test after closing day two on 102-4 in reply to India's first innings score of 469 in Mohali, BBC reports.
From an overnight 311-5, India were all out for 469, with Sourav Ganguly, who retires at the end of the series, making 102 for his 16th Test century.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit four sixes in an entertaining 92, but was last man out.
Australia plunged to 17-2 and then 62-3 before debutant Amit Mishra removed Michael Clarke in the final over.
The leg-spinner, who also bowled Simon Katich for 33, bowled a perfect googly from around the wicket into Clarke's pads to give umpire Asad Rauf one of the easiest lbw decisions he will ever see.
Clarke had looked one of Australia's most comfortable batsmen, but he was gone for 23.
India will want to remove Michael Hussey (37 not out) early on day three, after Dhoni missed two outside chances to catch him - on six and 25. Umpire Rudi Koertzen then reprieved the left-hander two runs later when replays suggested the excellent Zaheer Khan had pinned him lbw.
Night-watchman Ishant Sharma hit one spanking shot through the covers for four off debutant Peter Siddle, but became the first Indian dismissed in single figures when popping up a catch to Katich at leg gully.
Ganguly, who was on 54 overnight, and Dhoni were bombarded by short-pitched deliveries, but were barely troubled as they began a partnership which would provide 109 runs.
An off-colour Brett Lee was easily pulled by each batsman for four before Dhoni hooked Siddle for six and then creamed Shane Watson through the covers.
Ganguly took a boundary off the under-used spinner Cameron White on the stroke of lunch to move to 91 in a total of 401-6, Dhoni having motored along to 45.
The next 34 runs were added so smoothly that a total of 500 looked a formality, and 550 a distinct possibility.
But then India's innings unravelled. Moments after taking the boundary off White that took him to his second Test ton against Australia, Ganguly holed out to mid-off as he stepped out to attack White.
From an overnight 311-5, India were all out for 469, with Sourav Ganguly, who retires at the end of the series, making 102 for his 16th Test century.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit four sixes in an entertaining 92, but was last man out.
Australia plunged to 17-2 and then 62-3 before debutant Amit Mishra removed Michael Clarke in the final over.
The leg-spinner, who also bowled Simon Katich for 33, bowled a perfect googly from around the wicket into Clarke's pads to give umpire Asad Rauf one of the easiest lbw decisions he will ever see.
Clarke had looked one of Australia's most comfortable batsmen, but he was gone for 23.
India will want to remove Michael Hussey (37 not out) early on day three, after Dhoni missed two outside chances to catch him - on six and 25. Umpire Rudi Koertzen then reprieved the left-hander two runs later when replays suggested the excellent Zaheer Khan had pinned him lbw.
Night-watchman Ishant Sharma hit one spanking shot through the covers for four off debutant Peter Siddle, but became the first Indian dismissed in single figures when popping up a catch to Katich at leg gully.
Ganguly, who was on 54 overnight, and Dhoni were bombarded by short-pitched deliveries, but were barely troubled as they began a partnership which would provide 109 runs.
An off-colour Brett Lee was easily pulled by each batsman for four before Dhoni hooked Siddle for six and then creamed Shane Watson through the covers.
Ganguly took a boundary off the under-used spinner Cameron White on the stroke of lunch to move to 91 in a total of 401-6, Dhoni having motored along to 45.
The next 34 runs were added so smoothly that a total of 500 looked a formality, and 550 a distinct possibility.
But then India's innings unravelled. Moments after taking the boundary off White that took him to his second Test ton against Australia, Ganguly holed out to mid-off as he stepped out to attack White.