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India 110-2 in reply to Australia's 428

October 03, 2010 00:00:00


MOHALI, India, Oct 2 (cricinfo): Virender Sehwag delivered a brutal response to stun Australia with a quick half-century as India finished the second day of a two-paced Test on a high. Sehwag raced to a 39-ball fifty but was undone by Mitchell Johnson shortly before the close for 59, walking off frustrated by his error.
India finished at 110 for 2 at stumps in reply to the visitors' 428, with Rahul Dravid unbeaten on 21 and the nightwatchman Ishant Sharma on 0. Both the local openers showed the positive intent that was often missing in the field when they put on 81 in 13.2 overs to build on Zaheer Khan's 10th five-wicket haul. Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir (25) and Dravid quickly changed the value of Australia's total during a breathless finish to a day that had previously followed a sombre tempo.
After Australia had sweated to score at 2.82 an over, the Indians were soon careering along at a run a ball to upset a visiting attack that battled to regain control. Sehwag started biffing through the offside, hitting two boundaries from a Doug Bollinger over, and then crashing three off Ben Hilfenhaus. Nathan Hauritz's first ball went over mid-off, his next sped along the ground in the same region for the same result, and the over cost 11.
Australia 1st innings
S Watson 126, S Katich 6, R. Ponting 71, M Clarke 14, M Hussey 17, M North T Paine c Laxman 92, M Johnson 47, N Hauritz 9, B Hilfenhaus 20.
Extras: (b4, lb9, nb13) 26
Total: (for all out; 151.4 overs) 428
India 1st innings:
G Gambhir lbw b Johnson 25, V Sehwag c Clarke b Johnson 59, R Dravid not out 21.
Extras: (b1, lb4) 5
Total: (for two wickets; 21 overs) 110

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