India rode on the back of a sensational hundred by batting
legend Sachin Tendulkar to move away from a position of adversity to
a position of relative strength at the end of an exciting day's cricket at the
Adelaide Oval. India itched up to 305/5 at the end of the day, courtesy half
centuries by Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman who ably supported the little master
in India's quest of being the only side in over twenty years to win two consecutive
tests in Australia.
India dropped Wasim Jaffer for this clash preferring to bring
in Irfan Pathan to open the batting with Sehwag. India went into this
match with five bowlers, a clear sign of their attacking instincts and Harbhajan
Singh along with Anil Kumble will be eyeing the Australian line up on a slow
pitch. India started off smoothly with Sehwag at his flamboyant best accompanied
by a steady Irfan Pathan and India moved along to 32/0. It was then that
Mitchell Johnson caught the upcoming all rounder with a sharp out swinger that
kissed the edge of the bat enroute to Adam Gilchrist and the Australian pace
front were smelling blood. However, the Aussies were denied any further success
before lunch by some steady batting by ex-captain Rahul Dravid and Sehwag
who took the score onto 82.Dravid soon perished to another Johnson beauty while
Sehwag was the victim of another poor umpiring decision as he adjourned caught
behind off a clear no ball. by Brett Lee and when Ganguly fell leg before wicket
to Brad Hogg, all the good work of the morning seemed to have been undone
as India were now tottering at 152/4.
The fall of Sourav Ganguly however, brought Australia face
to face with their two biggest nemeses this series in VVS Laxman and
Sachin Tendulkar and both of them held the Australian bowling attack
at bay in the post lunch session. Tendulkar arguably playing his last test match
in Australia was in his flamboyant best as he hammered the Australian attack
for ten fours and three sixes en route his thirty ninth test century. In the
meanwhile Laxman had reached his half century and by the time Laxman fell to
a tired shot of Brett Lee, he had taken Indian to a comfortable 282/5. Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Tendulkar saw out the rest of the day and took India the
best the three hundred mark. The day however, belonged to the little master
as he cut loose in a fabulous counter attacking century achieved at a strike
rate of over seventy and India will be hoping that Sachin can further more lighten
up what might arguably be his last test on Australian soil.
Watch India attempt back to back victories over the might Australians
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