Zeenews Bureau
Perth, Jan 17: The Indian innings ended with a score of 52 runs for the loss of one wicket on the second day of the third Test match against Australia at the WACA ground in Perth. This took their lead to a solid 170 runs over the home team with Virender Sehwag looking ominous with the bat. The two unbeaten batsmen on the crease at the end of play were Virender Sehwag on 29 and Irfan Pathan on 2.
Australian pace spearhead Stuart Clark was the only bowler who made inroads in the Indian batting line-up, as he claimed the wicket of opener Wasim Jaffer. The batsman made 11 runs before he was caught at gully by Mike Hussey. India had acquired a lead of 168 runs by the time the wicket fell as Irfan Pathan walked in to play the role of a night watchman.
Earlier, India skipper Anil Kumble took the last Australian wicket in the form of Shaun Tait. The Oz innings was wrapped up for 212 runs, giving India a lead of 118 runs. RP Singh was the star of the Indian bowling line-up as he claimed four key wickets. The Indian bowlers didn’t let the opponent batsmen settle into a rhythm and earned the visitors a window of opportunity for a win.
RP Singh made his presence felt at WACA as he claimed yet another wicket in the form of Brett Lee at a score of just 11 runs. This was followed by another wicket in quick succession as Stuart Clark was out for a duck soon after. Wicketkeeper MS Dhoni completed a great day with the gloves as he plucked another cherry in his gloves.
The fall of Australia’s penultimate wicket came after a brilliant display of disciplined bowling by the seamers.
RP Singh got India the much desired breakthrough as he got the wicket of Adam Gilchrist who looked ominous at a score of 55 runs. The wicket exposed Australian tail enders to a charged up Indian bowling line-up as the scorecard read 192 runs for the loss of seven wickets.
India skipper Anil Kumble claimed his 600th Test wicket in the form of Andrew Symonds. The batsman was out on a score of 66 runs as he fine edged a delivery into the hands of MS Dhoni, which ricocheted off his gloves to be caught by Rahul Dravid. This brought the tail ender Brett Lee on the crease with Australia scorecard reading 163 runs for the loss of six wickets.
Kumble became the third bowler after Muralitharan and Shane Warne to have taken 600 wickets in Test cricket. He is the only Indian bowler to have achieved this feat.
Prior to this, Australian duo of Andrew Symonds and Adam Gilchrist milked the Indian bowling to take the home team to 148 runs for the loss of five wickets at tea time. Viewers were treated to fine cricketing action in the third Test match at Perth on Thursday. The Aussie batsmen’s skills were put to test by competent Indian pacers who hit the deck beautifully and generated pace as well as movement from the pitch.
Ishant Sharma got Australian team on the back foot as he took Michael Clarke’s wicket soon after he had dismissed Ponting. The batsman was out after scoring 23 runs as he was caught by MS Dhoni off a flying outside edge. Australia were 61 runs for the loss of five wickets. Adam Gilchrist walked in after half of the Australian camp was wrapped by Indian seamers at Perth.
Sharma shook the famed Aussie batting line-up as he claimed the prized wicket of Australian skipper Ricky Ponting. The batsman edged a good delivery which was short of the length and Rahul Dravid took a stunning catch to send him back at a score of just 19 runs.
RP Singh put India in the driver’s seat as he claimed the wicket of Mike Hussey who edged an outswinging delivery. The batsman was out for a duck as MS Dhoni caught a brilliant catch to get rid of the third Australian batsman in quick time. Australia were reeling under pressure as their scorecard read a gloomy 22 runs for the loss of three wickets at lunch.
Irfan Pathan drew first blood for India as he claimed the wicket of debutant Chris Rogers for a score of four runs. The batsman was out LBW to a steaming fast delivery by the Baroda. He quickly made another breakthrough by claiming Phil Jaques for a score of just 8 runs. The two wickets sent shockwaves down the Australian batting line-up as both the openers were back in the pavilion.
The Australian seamers made full use of the window of opportunity given to them in the form of the exposed Indian tail as they wrapped up the Indian campaign for 330 runs. The duo of Johnson and Clark wrecked havoc on the tail enders as they did not allow any substantial partnership to build up.
Skipper Anil Kumble fell victim to Stuart Clark while Irfan Pathan and RP Singh were claimed by Mitchell Johnson who took his wicket tally to four wickets from the first innings.
Australia’s Stuart Clark made inroads into the Indian tail by claiming the first wicket of the morning in the form of MS Dhoni. The batsman was out LBW to a slightly rising delivery at a score of 19 runs. Indian scorecard read 328 runs for the loss of seven wickets as skipper Anil Kumble walked in to bat.
The pair of MS Dhoni and Irfan Pathan had got India off to a positive and cautious start as the Australian pacers put their skills to test with tearing fast deliveries. The duo added 12 runs from the first eight overs including a four off the first ball of the ninth. This took the Indian overnight score to 309 runs.
