India on top
Sunday, January 4 2004
Resuming at day 2 with the score 284-3, Australia needed early wickets to get back into the match while Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman were determinded to bat as long as possible.
Brett Lee's first spell in the morning left something to be desired with Laxman hit a number of boundaries first up while Tendulkar got his confidence and played himself while facing some tight bowling by Jason Gillespie.
Tendulkar got into his stride by bring up his 32nd Test century and Laxman entertained the crowd as they went to Lunch still 3 wickets down. Tendulkar was 110* an Laxman 94*.
More of the same with Laxman making his 7th Test century and despite some tighter bowling from Australia, India went in still 3 down and with shades of Kolkata all over again.
Tendulkar was on 149* and Laxman 159*.
Tendulkar passed his 150 after being dropped by MacGill, the single off the dropped gave him his 150. After 363 run partnership and 24 hours since Australia last took a wicket, Gillespie made a breakthrough by bowling Laxman for 178.
Three overs later Lee bowled Sourav Ganguly for a quickfire 17 with the score on 570. That brought in Patel who gave support to Tendulkar as he passed his 200 and on to his highest Test score still unbeaten at stumps on 218* and Patel scoring a rapid fire 45* off 40 balls.
The match looks being an Indian win or a draw.
Scores summary
India 650-5 (Tendulkar 218*, Laxman 178, Shewag 72; Gillespie 3-112)
Posted by Craig
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