India Vs Australia – Day 4

Zaheer hits half a ton

Hayden’s nightmare

Ponting dissapointing

Ishant does it

Turbanator strikes

What a disaster for Hussey

Australian partnership

Sorry for the delay people, here you go

Day 4

 

Hello and welcome to Border-Gavaskar Trophy day 4. What brilliant ending to day 3 yesterday. Let’s see how it goes today when Zaheer and Kumble start to push Indian score little higher. Weather looks pretty nice, no sign of clouds or drizzle like yesterday. Brett lee starts the day’s proceedings and Zaheer to face the ball from where he left yesterday. It has been a treat to watch tail-enders doing the repair work to consolidate the Indian innings. Yesterday’s partnership of 80 runs between Zaheer and Harbhajan was the highlight of the day. Finally, Aussies get a break through trapping Kumble on the crease with a late swing delivery by Watson. Rauf points his finger out and declares Kumble LBW. Another useful partnership of 31 comes to an end. All this added to Australian frustration as India score 343 for the loss of 9 wickets.

 

Harbhajan added 54 and, now, Zaheer is taking the lead with a brilliant 57. It is a moment to watch when these tail-enders raise their bats high in the air where so called top order batsmen led India down. Top scorers in the Indian line-up are Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh, just unbelievable. It will be good to see as to how Australia accept this challenge. With a lead of 70 runs, when would Australia feel safe to declare their second innings? We will know people, we will know.

 

Question now: Will Zaheer be tired enough to fire all cylinders? After an exhausting knock he is all set to start the bowling too. Australia start their 2^nd inning cautiously and trying not to lose any wicket before lunch.

 

At Lunch: Australia 9 for no loss. 

 

Just after 12 overs post lunch Zaheer produces a blinder and freezes Hayden’s fate for 13 with swinging full length delivery. Hayden tries to forget the nightmare of his fall in the 1^st test. Hayden departs LBW and brings the first centurion at the crease, Ricky Ponting. Can start from where he left yesterday? Good question. Australia 21 for the loss of 1. Shaky start pushes India ahead and builds pressure on Australia. Indian bowling attack looks pretty confident after a successful batting expedition. Zaheer takes his 6^th wicket in the first test match…Bravo Zaheer. India fight back and fights back pretty neatly, Ponting falls flat on Ishant’s semi slow full length delivery. Out he goes. Laxman grabs a sharp catch in the midwicket area and sends the first inning centurion back to dressing room. Ponting scored 17 runs and took Aussie’s score to 50 for the loss of 2 wickets.

 

India apply mixed bowling attack from both ends, Ishant from one and Harbhajan from another. There comes 2^nd centurion from Australian first inning, Michael Hussey. Ponting’s failure raises expectation from Hussey. Can he deliver it again? Australian batsmen can feel the sting in Indian bowling; quick wickets put India on top. As we speak, here goes another wicket down to dust. Simon Katich plays a flighted delivery from Harbhajan which lands safe in Laxman’s magnetic hands at silly point. Harbhajan is proving more than useful, first with batting and now with bowling. After scoring 34 Katich rests in peace in the dressing room Clarke joins Hussey at the crease. Australia score 99 for the loss of 3 crucial wickets. Breaking the building partnerships Indians have finally found their feet on the ground.

 

Can India continue ripping off Australian innings? Another quick wicket would definitely push Australia on the back foot. I could have asked for something better, make a castle of my own. Clarke is out caught playing a full length delivery from Ishant. Sehwag grabs the ball neatly at the short cover region. Clarke contributed 6 runs to the Australian total of 115 after losing 4 wickets in the process. What a ripper!!

 

It is going bad to worse for Australians, Harbhajan strikes back. Bhajji completely bamboozled Hussey from his rightly pitched length delivery just outside off stump. As Hussey tries to let it go bowl rips back and disturb the furniture. What a beauty (Singh is surely a King). Hussey goes out after scoring 31 and brings Haddin to the crease. Crowed goes wild and follows a Mexican wave. It proves to be a disaster for the Australians. It looks like India would run through Aussie line up quickly and give India a fair chance to win the first test out of fours Dream on sugar. Commentators criticise Kumble’s bowling stats and I feel greedy for more wickets. Australia 128 for the loss of 5 wickets.

 

I love this game as it swings both ends in no time. A good partnership of 50 between Haddin and Watson drift the game slowly towards Australian side. It takes Australian total to 193 for the loss of 5 and mounts the total lead to 263 with 5 wickets in hand. Another exhilarating day comes to an end. India took control on the first session but second session drifting away to put Australia back in control. All credit goes to Haddin and Watson for their rescue partnership of 50 runs. Let’s see tomorrow what score would be good enough for Australia to defend.

 

Let’s come back tomorrow keeping the fingers crossed. India…India, clap…clap…clap.

India Vs Australia – Day 3

Brett Lee celebrates Gambhir’s fall

Johnson enjoys Sehwag’s wicket

Disappointment written on the face

Laxman departs

Tendulkar retreats

Singh is King

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.

India Vs Australia – Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Toss

Knocked out in first over

Celebration for Zaheer

Partnership of 166 runs

Ponting’s maiden century

Answer to his critics

Day 1

Australia wins the toss and elect to bat on first match of 4 matches test series. Apparently, this is the last test series for our Dada (Sourav Ganguly). I hope, he will say goodbye to his cricketing career with a golden knock like the way he started it in 1996 Vs England. Back to back centuries in his debut.

Let’s look at the Australian against Indian line up.

 

       Australian Line up                  Indian Line up       

Matthew Hayden

Simon Katich

Ricky Ponting

Michael Hussey

Michael Clarke

Shane Watson

Brad Haddin

Cameron White

Brett Lee

Mitchell Johnson

Stuart Clark

Gautam Gambhir

Virendra Sehwag

Rahul Dravid

Sachin Tendulkar

Sourav Ganguly

VVS Laxman

MS Dhoni

Anil Kumble

Harbhajan Singh

Zahir Khan

Ishant Sharma

At the Chinnaswamy Stadium, on-field-official Asad Rauf and Rudi Koerzten declare Play Ball!!

Under immense pressure on test playing seniors, India strikes in very first over. Zaheer Khan striking early gives India a boost in this over hyped up series. What a start, test cricket at its best. It looks to me an intriguing start for the Australian team, Zaheer and Ishant probing both the batsmen with perfect line and length. Both the opening bowlers look determined and bowling with a lot of fire and venom. As the day progresses, both the batsmen look pretty comfortable with spinners bowling. Steady recovery from one wicket down at early stage.

Lunch: As team break for lunch, Australia is 75 for the loss 1 wicket from 27 overs.

The first session goes Australian’s way because Ponting and Katich have built up a good partnership after the loss of Mathew Hayden. Ponting scored 41 with Simon Katich on the other side, supported with 28 runs. Zaheer Khan provided a break in the first over but spinners couldn’t capitalise on the early break through. However, a good match in the proceeding.

Second session

What a wonderful game of cricket, it swings both ways from Indian break-though to Australian resilience. If you are a fan of cricket then this is the match to watch. I woke up early this morning to catch every bit of it after a brief sleep last night. It is like getting up early morning and visiting a temple to get a glimpse of God.

Begins

This partnership looks formidable, Ponting looks determined to break his jinx for not scoring in India. This is his 2 best score in India after scoring 60 a decade ago. After scoring a stunning 50, Ponting hits a lofted shot for a Four on Harbhajan’s spin delivery. Australians are milking the balls around to put a mammoth total on the board. It will not be easy for Indian team to dominate the world champions even on the home turf. Break for tea

Third and final session

Ponting scores his maiden century on Indian turf. It has been a nightmare for Ponting scoring in India, whereas he scored tons against all other cricket playing nations. As he celebrates, he shows the bat to his critics who tormented him for his poor performance on the Indian soil. Well deserved century under immense pressure after losing Hayden in very first over.  **Applause**

With Zaheer Khan finishing a splendid spell Australia is building up another partnership between Ponting and Hussey. Oh dear!! Rudy turned down a caught and bowled of Ricky Ponting playing over pitched delivery from Kumble. This is looking interesting, something’s got to give here. Finally, after a caught n bowled and LBW appeals, Ricky Ponting goes out LBW on 123. Harbhajan strikes him out LBW. That’s the ninth time Ponting has fallen to Harbhajan in tests. This partnership was looking ominous as Ponting and Hussey added 60 to the total. One or two more wickets would be great before calling it a day. Dismissal of Ponting brings Michael Clark to the pitch. Australia now 223 runs from 3 wickets down. 

 

What a way to end the proceedings of the first day, Zaheer Khan strikes again. He took first wicket in the very first over of the match and takes another one in the last over of the match. Test match at its best…brilliant. Michael Clarke moves the bat slowly and finds himself trapped in the front, Zaheer appeals again and Rudy Koerzten gives him a slow death…OUT. Australia at stumps: 254 for the loss of 4 wickets.

It will continue tomorrow…enjoy