India poised for victory

20 October 2008

Harbhajan Singh and MS Dhoni celebrate Simon Katich's downfall for 20

Harbhajan Singh collected three top-order wickets and Ishant Sharma snared a brace to leave India on the brink of victory over Australia after day four of the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar series.

Off-spinner Harbhajan and paceman Sharma showed up frailties in Australia's batting line-up as the tourists crumbled to 58 for five at one stage in pursuit of 516 for an improbable win.

Michael Clarke (42 not out) and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (37 not out) staged a recovery of sorts as Australia ended the day on 141 for five, still needing 375 runs to triumph.

A hundred from Gautam Gambhir (104) and half-centuries from Virender Sehwag and Mahendra Singh Dhoni had set up India with a massive lead in quick time.

The hosts had already laid the foundation with a first-innings lead of 201 and Dhoni declared India's second innings on 314 for three, leaving Australia with a daunting total to chase.

Matthew Hayden, who had scores of nought, 13 and nought on the tour so far, and Simon Katich set about taking the attack to the India pacemen and partially succeeded as they hit the new-ball bowlers out of the attack.

Dhoni, however, brought on Harbhajan and the off-spinner immediately forced the breakthrough in spite of the ball being fairly new.

Hayden had made 29 from just 18 deliveries when he attempted to sweep Harbhajan, but instead was rapped on the pads in front of the stumps.

Katich (20) fell shortly after, square-driving Harbhajan for Sachin Tendulkar to take a fine catch at point.

Soon after the tea interval, Sharma had skipper Ricky Ponting bowled with one that nipped back sharply off the pitch and knocked back off-stump, while Harbhajan trapped Michael Hussey in front to leave Australia in tatters at 52 for four.

That became 58 for five when Sharma sent back Shane Watson for two, catching him on the crease and hitting him on the back pad as he shaped to defend.

Clarke, who has made little impression so far on this tour, was then joined by Haddin, and the two halted the rampaging India bowlers.

They added 83 runs for the sixth wicket by stumps, smashing six boundaries apiece as they safely negotiated a probing line from the spinners.

Gautam Gambhir lofts the ball during his innings of 104 to confirm the hosts' dominance

In the morning, Gambhir and Sehwag had picked up from where they had left off on the third day, hitting the bowlers around the park as they put on another 82 runs to their opening-wicket partnership - already worth 100 overnight.

Gambhir, resuming on his overnight 46, was almost done in by a touch of nerves at the start.

The left-hander presented Clarke with a run-out opportunity off the first ball he faced, edging a delivery from Cameron White which was put down by Hayden at first slip, and gave Brett Lee another run-out chance a little later as he inched towards his half-century.

Once past the mark, however, the 27-year-old was more fluent.

He stepped out to hoist White for a six over mid-on and continued to find the ropes almost at will as he raced towards a century.

Sehwag had hit a few blows of his own, slamming Watson past square-leg for his first boundary of the day and thumping White over mid-on for another.

The belligerent opener, who celebrated his 30th birthday on Monday, survived a collective appeal for caught behind off Mitchell Johnson, umpire Asad Rauf remaining unmoved.

Replays suggested Sehwag had indeed nicked the delivery, but it proved not to have been a costly call for Australia as Sehwag fell two runs later, edging Peter Siddle to wicketkeeper Haddin.

Dhoni promoted himself up the order, quick runs and maintaining momentum evidently weighing heavily on the India captain's mind. The move paid off as runs flowed.

Dhoni quickly added 42 for the second wicket with Gambhir, the latter notching his second Test century in the process.

Gambhir was dismissed just before lunch and Dhoni was joined by Sourav Ganguly (27), the two adding 66 runs for the third wicket, with India hammering an astonishing 130 runs in the first session.

Dhoni was unbeaten on 68 and Sachin Tendulkar was on 10 when the declaration came.