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Unconquered Gambhir drives India in supreme position at Kotla

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Stylish Opening batsman Gautam Gambhir scored a career-best 149 to help India overcome initial hurdles and end up at a supreme position of 296 for 3 at stumps on Day 1 of the Kotla Test. The best part is that Gautam Gambhir has batted right through the day’s play and is still unbeaten along with a well set VVS Laxman (54). The Aussies find themselves under huge pressure of letting the initiative go on a dry wicket that should deteriorate quickly as the game moves ahead. The homeside were put under pressure when they had lost two big wickets early but Gambhir and Tendulkar spoilt the Australian plans thereafter.

The start of this 3rd Test Match was going to be a selection dilemma for the homeside which was solved by Harbhajan Singh’s toe injury. Amit Mishra, one of the chief architects of the Mohali victory could retain his spot though Anil Kumble returned back as the Captain. Kumble won the crucial toss which enabled his side to bat first when the wicket is at its best. The consolation for the visitors at the start of the match was the comeback of Stuart Clark, who overcame his elbow injury to replace Peter Siddle.

The struggling Brett Lee found some early joy and some new confidence when he caught Sehwag in the crease with a rapid incoming delivery. Sehwag stayed in the crease for just the two balls and could just avoid a duck. Next man Rahul Dravid weathered the storm along with Gambhir in the hazy conditions but this stay was cut short to just the 11th over when he fell playing a poor shot. It was Mitchell Johnson, who struck gold in his very first over when he tempted Dravid (11 from 31 balls) to drive at a juicy delivery that was miles outside the off stump. While Dravid’s was a bad shot, the catch taken by birthday boy Hayden at first slip was a sharp one as the edge flew fast and low. Despite the two big blows, Sachin Tendulkar looked very calm and composed and along with him got Gambhir to bat nicely with his head down.

Gambhir was showing a lot of discipline and so was Tendulkar in leaving all the juicy deliveries outside the off stump and by lunch India was fighting back well at 67 for in 26 overs. The fight resumed after lunch from the two batsmen and the shortage of resources in the Australian armoury got exhausted pretty quickly. India now had taken the initiative and seemed to be going wicketless in the afternoon session. The last over before Tea though had changed the equation slightly with Tendulkar losing his focus and poking at an away going delivery from Johnson. Sachin by then was looking in fabulous touch; the little master had all the time in the world to play on the backfoot although Johnson was bowling at 150 kmph! Tendulkar made 68 in 126 balls with 11 fours in an innings that hardly had any flaws besides putting on 130 with Gambhir for the 3rd wicket.

India still went into Tea at a satisfying 158 for 3 in 52 overs with a good platform set. The pitch suggested that getting a total of 350 could be a very good effort and the batting side looked well placed to get there. Gambhir resumed his innings on 67 after Tea along with a free stroking VVS Laxman. The Australians were already under the pressure of having to bowl as many as 38 overs in two and half hours and were likely to bowl a lot of overs from their slow bowlers. Gambhir and Laxman took full toll of that and the runs started to flow very freely. Soon Gambhir got into the 90s and when he was on 99, he charged down the track to smack Watson over long on for a stunning six! Incidentally this was only the second test match for Gambhir at his home ground.

It was expected that Gambhir could throw it away having got his third test hundred as that is how most batsmen tend to do. But Gambhir didn’t show any signs of satisfaction and was very determined to convert the hundred into a big one. Laxman at the other end easily brought up yet another fifty with minimum of efforts. The Aussies were clearly down and out and a few verbal exchanges with Gambhir showed their frustration of possibly losing the grip of the test match. Fortunately for India, the pair of Gambhir (149 from 285 with 20 fours and a six) and Laxman (54 from 94 balls with 3 fours) maintained their concentration levels to see off the closing stages of play to stretch their 4th wicket partnership to 139. The second new ball was taken during the dying stages of the match but it hasn’t offered any swing whatsoever.

The last session was very fruitful for India producing as many as 138 runs in 37 overs without the loss of any wicket. Even a batting collapse tomorrow cannot stop India from getting to 350 atleast which should be a formidable first innings total. If the Aussies fail to trigger any quick collapse, then the Indian batsmen will be looking to bat as long as possible to demoralize their opponents. What was interesting was the fact that part time left arm wrist spinner Simon Katich got the ball to turn sharply and that would certainly make Anil Kumble and Amit Mishra quite deadly to handle. The stand out bowler of the day was Stuart Clark, who managed to concede only 29 runs in his 21 overs.