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| Hussey, Clark
save Aus from embarrassment |
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October
04, 2008
 Australians
faced a huge embarrassment this morning at Hyderabad when they
slipped to 218 for 9 from 191 for 4. The stage was set for the
Board team to wrap up the Australian innings and set the match
up. But they were in for a shock when Michael Hussey along
with last man Stuart Clark batted for more than a couple of
hours, to be precise for 40.1 overs to frustrate the homeside.
The Board's team is still ahead in the game with a good
looking total of 110 for 2 to take their lead to 251.
Just the one day's play is left in this four
day match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in
Hyderabad and the match most probably could end as a draw. The
Board's team may be looking to stretch their lead to 300-320
and then see if the two spinners - Piyush
Chawla and Pragyan Ojha can take quick wickets on a pitch that
is taking sharp turn. Earlier in the day, the Aussies lost
wickets in a hurry when play started Ojha and Chawla got the
wickets of the likes of Haddin, Lee and others. The only
person standing in their way was Michael Hussey, who remained
unconquered on 126 (from 302 balls with 14 fours and a six).
Hussey's partner, the tall Stuart Clark helped himself to 44
while surviving for 107 balls. Clark struck 4 fours and two
sixes and his partnership with Hussey was 96! Piyush Chawla
did well for his 40-7-89-5 and so did left arm spinner Pragyan
Ojha with his 34-10-72-3 on his home ground.
In their second essay, the Board's team was
pegged back by the early dismissals of Akash Chopra (who was
lbw to Stuart Clark) and Badrinath, who failed to justify his
inclusion in the test team with another poor score. The hosts
could recover though nicely and at stumps got to 110 for 2 in
35 overs with opener Wasim Jaffer on 46 from 95 with 5 fours
and Skipper Yuvraj Singh gaining some confidence in his 37
(which came in 69 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes).
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