Related Links : Australia in India 2008/09 | 1st Test Scorecard
All rounders Shane Watson and Brad Haddin with an unbeaten partnership of 65 helped Australia to come out of a tricky situation through their naturally attacking game which has now put the visitors in almost a secured position in the first Test. Australia have got themselves a lead of 263 which they would be trying to stretch to as much as possible by 30 minutes or so of batting tomorrow morning and give the survival test for the hosts.
India would have an outside chance of pulling off an incredible chase but the unpredictable nature of the pitch will make them to survive first and then attack. Of course everything will depend on the start from Sehwag and Gambhir, who will try to be positive while the middle order will look to play in a conservative fashion. The morning session of the fourth day belonged to the Indians as the last three batsmen piled up a lot of frustration on the Aussies by lasting an hour and a half. Overnight batsman Zaheer Khan got his second test match fifty and he remained undefeated on 57 (from 121 balls with 7 fours). Surprisingly Zak even became the top scorer of the Indian innings. He got admirable support from Kumble, who lasted 33 deliveries before getting lbw to Watson and from last man Ishant, who batted well for 31 balls before playing all over a full delivery from Michael Clarke. Zaheer’s brilliant application along with the support from Kumble and Ishant stretched India’s total to 360 while also batting out 119 overs and killing 551 minutes in the match.
The lead that the Aussies could gather was just 70 considering that they had India at 155 for 5 one time yesterday. The Australians started their second innings 25 minutes before lunch and it was just too tough to handle a charged up Zaheer and Ishant for both Hayden and Katich. The fielding side was temporarily being led by Vice Captain MS Dhoni with Anil Kumble receiving treatment for his shoulder injury. Dhoni was left with just the two quicks and Harbhajan Singh. The three bowlers though took the responsibility on their shoulders in sustaining the pressure. Australia managed to go without losing a wicket before lunch and after lunch they lost Hayden out lbw to a reverse swinging delivery from Zaheer. Hayden once again fell cheaply, this time scoring 13 in 40 balls. Next man, Ricky Ponting was confident having got a century in the first essay but at the same time Harbhajan was a doubly dangerous bowler on a track that was deteriorating quickly. But it was Ishant Sharma who had got the Australian Skipper out after bowling several reverse swinging inswingers. Dhoni’s captaincy was at his best as he not only put a defensive field but at the same time had the catchers in positions where it mattered. One of the catching positions was the short mid wicket where VVS Laxman held onto a low catch off a flick shot from Ponting (17 from 34 with 2 fours).
India had kept the Australians under enormous pressure and had dried out the runs completely. Simon Katich was only keen on defending deliveries and often missed out in putting away the bad deliveries. Things would have been different for Harbhajan had a bat pad catch offered by Katich was taken by Gambhir at short leg. That reprieve allowed Katich to build up a nice partnership with Hussey. India lost a bit of aggression on the field after Anil Kumble took charge in the middle and the partnership was starting to build the platform for Australia. Kumble was badly missed in the bowling department as he had to wait till 3:32, an hour after Tea before he could bowl. By Tea, Katich and Hussey were still together to take the score to 74 for 2. After Tea, Harbhajan started to bowl some wicked top spinners, which were intended to land a little shorter but perfectly on the seam. One such deliveries kicked off and Katich (34 from 140 balls with 3 fours) tried to jab at that on the backfoot to give a simple catch to silly point. Harbhajan failed to turn the ball big certainly found a way out with this new deadly top spinner.
The next man joining Hussey was Michael Clarke, who didn’t seem to be in the best of nicks. Clarke being a free stroking batsman took his chance of going through a forceful cover drive on the up but Ishant Sharma was too clever in sucking him with his new found slower delivery. On a pitch where the ball was gripping the surface, the shot from Clarke (6) could be called foolish, more so as it went straight into the hands of short extra covers to reduce Aus to 115 for 4. The score would become 128 for 5 after a couple of overs with Hussey getting bamboozled by a Bhajji top spinner that would land outside the off stump, disturb the top surface and head towards the off stump to clean it up. Hussey who didn’t know what was coming had just left it alone and was shocked to see the delivery scream back to hit his off stump. Hussey made 31 from 72 with 3 fours which included a magnificent sweep shot to silence the noisy Bangalore crowd.
Australia were struggling at 128 for 5 and with a lead of 198 had still a lot more to do. Anil Kumble, who had brought himself to bowl didn’t really look penetrative at all while Harbhajan Singh was getting a bit tired. The new pair of Watson and Haddin were positive and their approach brought some much needed boundaries. The pair didn’t find any trouble facing Kumble and against Harbhajan had a mixed bag, sometimes getting their shots right and sometimes getting beaten by turn and bounce. Watson and Haddin lasted the distance and the match really drifted away from the Indians towards the end. In the last half an hour, Zaheer Khan was brought in and the left armer with his reverse swing made life tough for the two right handers. Zaheer was very close in getting both the batsmen out on more than one occasion. His spell towards end was helpful in damage control for India as they could restrict the Aussies at 193 in 68 overs at stumps. Watson got himself 32 from 67 with 4 fours and Haddin scored 28 from 49 with 3 fours. Both these batsmen will be looking to play all their shots tomorrow morning to extend the 263-run lead.