India shaken up in their battle to save the Sydney Test : Match Report of Aus Vs Ind, Day 3, 2nd Vodafone Test at SCG

Tags: Australia v India 2nd Test at Sydney - Jan 3-7, 2012, India tour of Australia 2011-12, Michael John Clarke, Michael Edward Killeen Hussey, India, Australia, Gautam Gambhir

Published on: Jan 05, 2012

Scorecard | Commentary | Graphs

India finished the third day’s play of the Second Test at Sydney at 114 for 2 in 41 overs in their second innings. A possible innings defeat is awaiting them tomorrow unless someone plays a special knock.

Final Session Report

India finished the third day’s play of the Second Test at Sydney at 114 for 2 in 41 overs in their second innings. A possible innings defeat is awaiting them tomorrow unless someone plays a special knock. The visitors were lucky not to be three or four down by stumps as both Tendulkar and Gambhir survived close calls just few minutes before stumps. Tendulkar narrowly got bowled off a bat pad edge and Gambhir was dropped by Haddin. The tourists have a long way to go with 354 more runs in the deficit and two full days left in the match.

The evening session saw Rahul Dravid gaining some confidence as India seemed to be fighting back through his solid partnership with Gambhir. However, just after the drinks break Rahul Dravid disappointingly got clean bowled through the gate for the third time in this series. The bowler was Hilfenhaus who drew him forward and got the ball to cut back with just enough movement and bounce to hit the off stump bail through the bat pad gap. Dravid made 29 from 73 balls with 6 fours in a promising stand of 82 with Gambhir.

Next man Sachin Tendulkar got quite a lot of deliveries outside off and he patiently kept on leaving them. Gambhir too went in a shell leaving wisely outside off and at one stage India batted out around eight maidens on the trot! Fortunately for India, the two batsmen survived the phase before stumps to carry on their fight for tomorrow. Gambhir remained unbeaten on 68* (from 124 balls with 9 fours) and Tendulkar got to 8* (from 42 balls with 1 four).

Tea Report

Virender Sehwag threw his wicket away early to add to India’s woes in the Sydney Test. The visitors have their backs to the walls with a huge deficit of 415 more runs to clear with 9 wickets in hand. On the brighter side, Gautam Gambhir seems to be regaining his lost form as he batted beautifully in the period before Tea to score an attractive unbeaten 39 from 42 with 7 fours. Gambhir’s drives on the frontfoot have been delightful to watch. Rahul Dravid is at the crease with Gambhir and is on 7* from 22 balls. India have got 29 overs to negotiate in the last session.

India at Tea on Day 3 are 53 for 1 in 12 overs. They lost the wicket of Sehwag (4) in the fourth over itself when he chased a widish delivery from Ben Hilfenhaus to play a square cut in the air. Sehwag didn’t get the desired elevation and got caught superbly by a flying David Warner to his left at point.

Australia declaration

Australia have declared their first innings finally just at the time of drinks in the post-lunch session at a mammoth score of 659 for 4 and having kept India on the field for 163 overs! India now have a huge deficit of 468 runs to wipe off to avoid an innings defeat! There are about 41 overs to negotiate for the visitors today.

Well Michael Clarke reached his maiden triple century of his career, both in international and first class. He remained unconquered on 329 (from 468 balls with 39 fours and a six). Michael Hussey remained unbeaten on 150 (from 253 balls with 16 fours and a six). And the two batsmen have put on an unbroken stand of 334 runs in 79.2 overs for the fourth wicket.

Lunch Report

It was another flat wicketless session for Team India as all they did was leather chasing yet again in the Sydney Test. Australia Skipper Michael Clarke went past a few records in his knock and is now inching towards a maiden triple century of his life. Clarke is on 293* (from 424 balls with 35 fours and a six) and is now holding the new record for the highest ever Test score at the Sydney Cricket Ground beating the previous record held by England’s Tip Foster.

Giving Clarke the company is Michael Hussey who eased his way to a 16th Test hundred and he is still batting at the crease. Hussey is on 111* from 207 balls with 12 fours and a six. All the Indian bowlers with the exception of UmeshYadav bowled well but were unlucky not to get any rewards.

Australia at lunch on Day 3 are 583 for 4 in 148 overs to pile up their lead to 392 runs. The morning session saw the Aussies collect 101 runs for no loss in 32 overs.

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