Day 3: India Hold Slight Upper Hand

Fortunes were swaying and fightbacks were occurring, as India now fought back once again in the third test match at Chennai after witnessing an Australian resurgence yesterday as some solid lower order batting and tight bowling helped India's cause.

Another incredibly hot and steamy Chennai day awaited the players of both teams and conditions were as harsh as they possibly could be. Resuming on 6/291, Mohammad Kaif and Parthiv Patel continued on with their solid batting as the two inched India past 300 soon after the morning session began.

The Australian's who had missed their catches yesterday didn't get as many opportunities today in the morning session as Kaif and Patel both registered their respective half centuries with some determined and consistent batting.

With the lead at 100 runs, both Patel and Kaif were looking comfortable and set at the crease, but the champion leg spinner, Shane Warne put an end to Patel's solid contribution as he had the youngster out caught behind by Adam Gilchrist off a slight deflection for 54.

Mohammad Kaif continued on, as did Anil Kumble and for the first time in a long time, India's tail was consistently producing valuable runs and supporting India's much recognised top order. Anil Kumble provided solid support as the Indian lead went past an impressive figure of 125 runs.

The oppressive 43 degree celsius heat unfortunately affected Mohammad Kaif as the young Indian middle order batsman showed symptoms of dehydration and heat stroke and was promptly taken off the ground. The Chennai heat was too much, even for Mohammad Kaif who is widely recognised as one of the fittest players in world cricket.

This gave Shane Warne and Australia the opening they needed as Kumble (20) and Harbhajan (5) fell to Shane Warne giving him figures of 6/125. Mohammad Kaif then bravely came back onto the ground with the aid of a runner after leaving due to illness earlier.

The exhausted Kaif didn't last too long as he reverse swept Shane Warne and instintively ran for a single despite having a runner present. Kaif unfortunately cramped up and collapsed a quarter of the way down the pitch as he was run out for a brave and solid knock of 64.

India had secured an impressive lead of 141 runs, and the threat of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh loomed large over a wearing Chennai pitch. India got off to the worst possible start as Parthiv Patel once again dropped a simple catch, this time of dangerman Matthew Hayden on 0.

Hayden and Langer then were intent on making India pay as the two raced along towards their 50 run partnership with some dominating batsmanship. However, with the first ball after the tea break Anil Kumble stuck gold for India as he had Langer driving only to give an edge to the waiting Rahul Dravid at slips.

Adam Gilchrist shouldered even more responsibilty as he promoted himself up the order and replaced the inform Simon Katich at number three. Gilchrist began tentatively, but Hayden was still in a dominating mood as Australia crept closer and closer towards eradicating this defecit.

However, Kumble struck another blow to the Australian batting order as Hayden (39) once again perished by lofting the ball straight up into the air which landed safely into the vacant and waiting hands of VVS Laxman.

With the demise of Hayden, Gilchrist started to look more assured and in typical Gilchrist fashion started taking the attack towards the Indian bowlers. But as with this test match of twists and turns, India fought back again as Zaheer Khan had Simon Katich lbw for 9.

With the day almost about to end, honours looked even in this closely fought match. For Australia though, the unthinkable happened as Adam Gilchrist was bowled around his legs by an Anil Kumble googly to give the champion Indian leg spinner his 10 wicket haul for the match.

With the score at 4/150, India look in a prized position to take out this test match and level the series 1-1. But Australia have some very prized batsmen in Darren Lehmann and new sensation Michael Clarke waiting to rescue this match for Australia.

With Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh in prime form, it makes for an entertaining and tough day's fourth day's play. Log on to http://www.cricketweb.net for the complete fourth day's report after the day's play.


Brief Score Summary: End of Day 3

Australia (1st Innings): 235 All Out (Langer 71, Hayden 58, Kumble 7/48, Harbhajan 2/90)

India (1st Innings): 376 All Out (Sehwag 155, Kaif 64, Patel 54, Warne 6/125, Gillespie 2/70)

Australia (2nd Innings): 4/150 (Gilchrist 49, Hayden 39, Martyn 19*, Gillespie 0*, Kumble 3/53, Zaheer 1/15)



Posted by Sangrah