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Brett Lee celebrates Gambhir’s fall
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Johnson enjoys Sehwag’s wicket
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Disappointment written on the face
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Laxman departs
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Tendulkar retreats
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Singh is King
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Two to Tango
Day 3
Welcome to day three from Chinnaswamy Stadium. Sky looks bright and no sign of rainy clouds hovering over like yesterday, a perfect day for cricket. Sehwag is facing Johnson from where he left yesterday. India 68 without losing any wickets.
And an early break through for Australia, India loses their first wicket of Gambhir. From past two days including today falling wicket early looks like a trend to me. India need to stay focused and make it hard for Australians to get easy break through. Here comes Dravid as Gambhir departs scoring 21. India score 70 for the loss of 1.
Just when Sehwag is looking threatening he plays a silly shot and edges it to the second slip. Johnson bowls a full length and wide delivery and Shewag reaches out for it and does nothing but gives away an easy catch to Hayden on slip. He makes his way to the pavilion after scoring 45. This is the second blow for Indians scoring 76 to begin the day’s proceedings. Here comes the master blaster, Sachin Tendulkar, as name says it all he takes his stance to go pass Brian Lara. He needs to score 77 runs to break Lara’s record and become highest run scorer in the world cricket. He looks confident as he smashes a handsome Four through the point region. As my cable connection comes back India score 90 for the loss of 2.
Here comes the disaster, Tendulkar out caught chipping the ball to White at short cover region. Johnson rolls his finger and produces a slower delivery; Tendulkar pushes the ball to score another four through cover but lands up in the safe hands of Cameron White. Tendulkar joins Gambhir and Sehwag in the dressing room after scoring 13 runs. India lose another big wicket scoring 94 for the loss of 3. Laxman joins Dravid when India going hey wire between wickets on third day.
Indians have to play out of their skins to match up with this total put by Australians. The way things are going right now it looks difficult. But you never know in this wonderful game of cricket. Ouch!! What a shame. Johnson bowls a fuller length delivery outside off stump; Laxman pokes at it and produces an edge. What happens next we all know. Laxman is gone for duck getting caught behind by keeper. What is it happening here, all the batsmen going back to pavilion one by one. The variable bounces proving difficult for the Indian batsmen. India 106 for the loss of 4…Shame!! Here comes Dada to play his last test series. I hope he will make it count and say bye to International cricket on a high.
Dravid and Gangly are playing cautiously and trying to consolidate the Indian innings. It will be difficult task for both of them to stay on the pitch for long and face invariable bounce. Let’s see how it goes. So far so good, India have scored 133 on board with partnership growing between two batsmen on the crease.
Lunch time: India 133 for the loss of 4
Come back in half an hour or so to see whether India comeback or Australia ram-down the Indian batting line-up.
There you go again. When it seems a good partnership building Australia breaks it smartly. This is the sign of Champions. Dravid caught plumb in the front and declared LBW by Rauf. As Watson celebrates his well taken wicket Dravid looks quite disappointed. This day completely belongs to Australia, knocked out Indian top order batsmen one by one. Dravid falls after making a fighting 51 and India reach 155 for the loss of 5 wickets on day 3. Can India reach even closer to Australian score of 430? Only time will tell but looks pretty difficult with 5 wickets in hand. Dravid dismissal brings Dhoni to the crease; it will be interesting to see his approach to first Indian inning.
Champions are playing like champions; first proved it with bat and now with ball. Everyone is contributing in their best possible way, from batsmen to bowlers taking Australia closer towards victory. Just when I said champions, Dhoni loses his wicket by missing the slower delivery from Clarke. Slower delivery turns and beats Dhoni’s bat to take off the off stump. This cute looking Clarke is devil in disguise. Dhoni departs after adding 9 runs to the total. Who will save India now? Wickets scattering all over the places and no one seems good enough to stay longer at the crease. But Dada looks determined as if he is playing with a plan, going for the glory. All the very best Dada. After losing 6 wickets India crumble with 195 on the board.
As I am down with mild fever covering this match is hurting me even more; it is going bad to worse. Ganguly is out LBW. Johnson has done the trick again, pitches just outside the off stump and nips back to rap on the front pad. Rauf declares Ganguly LBW after a good thought. No substantial partnership could build up as Indian wickets have fallen on regular intervals. Ganguly’s fight to prove has ended in vain, nevertheless, good effort to score 47 where all other Indian batsmen have fallen flat. As Zaheer makes his way to the crease India score 232 for the loss of 7 wickets.
As Indian wickets crumble quickly in Chinnaswamy Stadium heavy drizzle sends the players back to the dressing room. Covers are on and game comes to a complete halt.
Game resumes with India 234 for the loss of 7. Now, it is not about what would be the Indian total on the board but how quickly Kangaroos wrap up the Indian inning. All of a sudden Zaheer and Harbhajan have started to make mockery out of the faster bowlers. They have added 41 runs together after quick singles and back to back fours…amazing stuff. Good to see odd defence from Harbhajan, it must be frustrating for Kangaroos. As ball meets the sweet part of the bat India score 279 for the loss of 7. This is the most interesting part of the game and crowd loves it. Where all the Indian batsmen failed to make an impact Harbhajan Singh knocks a brilliant 50. As crowed is chanting Sing is King Both Zaheer and Harbhajan have built up a partnership of 66 runs. Who would have expected these tail-enders will give a headache to the Australians. Way to go.
Finally Watson strikes Harbhajan out with his short pitched delivery with extra bounce. Harbhajan cuts the ball hard but thin top edge goes back to keeper. Harbhajan failed to impress anyone with his bowling but his excellent knock of 54 surely entertained everyone. This is his third consecutive half century against Australia. I guess, It brings the best out of him against Australia. The partnership of 80 between Zaheer and Harbhajan keep the team in the game. Once it was looking Australian lead of 200 and above but this partnership certainly reduced the gap to 118 runs.
India 312 for the loss of 8 wickets at the end of day 3. This fight will continue tomorrow with Kumble and Zaheeer on the crease.
October 11, 2008
Categories: Cricket, India, Sports, Travel . Tags: Brett Lee, Gautam Gambhir, Harbhajan singh, Michael Clarke, Mitchell Johnson, Ms Dhoni, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Shane Watson, Sourav Ganguly, Stuart Clarke, Virendra Sehwag, VVS Laxman, Zaheer Khan . Author: praky . Comments: 11 Comments