Martyn ton sets up Day 5

India v Australia: 2nd Test, Day 4
October 17, 2004 at Chepauk, Chennai

Australian middle-order batsman Damien Martyn scored his eighth Test century, probably his most important; to help Australia set India a target of 229, one that has never been achieved before at the Chepauk, to set up what could be a thrilling Day 5 of the second Test.

The visitors, who resumed Day 4 at a critical 150-4, managed to get to a score of 369, before India came out to bat for a handful of overs, in which they reached 19-0.

Martyn, who made 104, was ably supported by night watchman Jason Gillespie, who lasted almost two sessions, playing out as many as 165 balls, but more importantly adding 139 with Martyn.

Martyn shared the honours for the day along with Anil Kumble, whose figures of 6-131 put him ahead of Wasim Akram, and seventh on the list of all-time highest Test wicket-takers.

Martyn brought up his century with a mammoth six off Harbhajan Singh, before getting caught in the slips off the same bowler, just before tea. Gillespie too after all the hard work, following Martyn in quick succession, losing his wicket in the same fashion as Martyn, but a more difficult catch.

Earlier, Martyn and Gillespie played out the entire first session adding 80 runs, during which Gillespie was let off twice off Harbhajan, once by himself for a caught and bowled and the other by Parthiv Patel.

In fact, Parthiv has a shocked of a day, giving away more than 20 runs, only on missed collections, five of them coming as a result of penalty due to the ball touching the helmet after he failed to collect it - the second time that happened in this Test match.

After Harbhajan broke the partnership, it was up to Michael Clarke and Darren Lehmann to set up a target, which would be difficult to chase down. However, Lehmann, who's had an average series to be fair, failed to convert a start, falling to Kumble for 31. Clarke remained unbeaten on 39.

India's chase got off to a flyer, with first innings' centurion Virendar Sehwag smashing Glenn McGrath for three boundaries, before the close of play. India is left with a further 210 to achieve their target, and level the series 1-1.

Score Summary:

Australia 235 and 369
(AC Gilchrist 49, DR Martyn, MJ Clarke 39*, Harbhajan Singh 108/3, A Kumble 133/6)
India 376 and 19-0
(V Sehwag 12*)

India require 210 more runs to win.

Posted by Sudeep