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Day 3: He's Out

Monday, January 5 2004

India have further tightened their grip on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy following a dominant display on day 3, a day which included the scalp of Steve Waugh.

Resuming the day at a massive 650/5, pint-sized keeper Parthiv Patel spanked his maiden half-century in Test cricket at the meagre age of 18.

His 50-ball cameo of 62 soon came to an end, however, when he gloved Brett Lee to Adam Gilchrist down the leg side.

Next Lee over, Ajit Agarkar's horror run with the bat in Australia continued when he was knocked over for 2 by a sharp yorker.

Yet that was the only successes Lee would face in the field. Soon enough, the 200th run has been scored off his bowling (only the second Australian to concede so many runs) and the declaration was made.

Sachin Tendulkar continued his marvellous symphony from the previous day in the morning session, cruising to his highest Test score of 241*, the highest score by and Indian outside of India and the second highest behind VVS Laxman's Kolkata masterpiece.

Irfan Pathan had reached 13 when Sourav Ganguly waved his troops at 705.

For Australia, Lee's ignominities have been explained, finishing with 4/201, while Jason Gillespie proved his sheer class with 3/135 in trying circumstances.

Nathan Bracken and Stuart MacGill must now fear for their Test careers after displays that can only be described as dismal.

Upon the commencement of the Australian innings, Justin Langer opened his shoulders and raced to an unbeaten 38 at lunch - amazingly, partner Matthew Hayden had only reached 8.

It took until mid-afternoon for India to claim their first scalp, with Anil Kumble bowling a clever wrong-un for Matthew Hayden to sky to an elated Sourav Ganguly at mid off. Hayden made 67 after forcing the pace behind lunch.

Langer, however, continued on his merry way - reaching his century with an amazing reverse sweep for four, typical of the brutally entertaining nature of his innings.

Soon after tea, Langer's luck ran dry when he skied a sweep for Patel to cover significant ground and snare the catch in front of square leg. Kumble had taken his second wicket, and began to look like he could just run through the Australian side.

Vice-captain Ricky Ponting became his next victim when he was trapped plum LBW for just 25 to leave the hosts vulnerable at 3/229.

Enter the great - a legend, Stephen Rodger Waugh. You would be hard pressed to choose anyone else better equipped for such a situation, providing emotions didn't over boil.

Sadly for the Australians, it seemed the most flappable was Damien Martyn, who spooned an extremely soft catch back to the bowler Kumble after making 7 from 45 deliveries.

Simon Katich then joined the ageing Warrior at the crease, and while scratching around early on, he soon looked as comfortable as he ever had in an Australia side, pushing the ball through gaps at an impressive rate.

Waugh crunched a typical 40, highlighted by punishing off-side strokes and delicate sweeps.

A delicate edge would prove the end of his innings, however, when Irfan Pathan made use of the reverse swing tactic before Parthiv Patel completed the dismissal.

Tugga was out. Spears went through hearts with the initial shock, yet the patriotic Sydney crowd gave Waugh a resounding round of applause.

In the context of the match, it is unlikely it will be their last sighting of Waugh with bat in hand.

Teenager Pathan again shattered Australian dreams a short while later when he bowled a massive reverse-swinging yorker, making an equally massive mess of Adam Gilchrist's stumps on just 6.

Aside from the hype, Pathan today offered a glimpse of just what he could be with the ball at Test level.

Brett Lee survived an anxious 6 balls to end the day unbeaten on 0.

Simon Katich was also unbeaten at the close, playing easily his best Test innings to date to be on 51.

His arrival as a star of the future may have come today in the hefty shadow of Steve Waugh.

For the Indians, Anil Kumble finished the day with 4/103 and Irfan Pathan 2/46.

Ajit Agarkar proved expensive, while Murali Kartik proved an extremely disappointing flop, reverting to bowling darts.

Progress Score: Stumps Day 3

India 7 dec. 705 (S Tendulkar 241*, VVS Laxman 178, V Sehwag 72, P Patel 62, A Chopra 45)

Australia 6/342 (J Langer 117, M Hayden 67, S Katich 51*, S Waugh 40; A Kumble 4/103)

Posted by Andre