Late flurry rams home India advantage
India has turned a nervous session before stumps on day two into a glowing positive, as their lead over Australia in the third test at the WACA balloons into dangerous territory for the world champions. On a day which garnered a staggering 15 wickets, the tourists are 1 for 52 in their second innings, a substantial lead of 170. Virender Sehwag refusing to harness his attacking tendencies, cracking a quick fire 29 not out.
India took control of the test thanks to a sublime performance from their pacemen. Using the Perth breeze and healthy WACA bounce, the Indians made short work of Australia’s first innings, needing just 50 overs to bowl the Australians out for 212.
Andrew Symonds and Adam Gilchrist threatened to rescue the Australians from the dire position at 5/61, however once the 102 run partnership was broken, the wickets once again flowed.
Anil Kumble became the third bowler in test history to claim 600 test dismissals. His 600th scalp may prove to be game-defining, jamming Symonds for 66. The Queenslander attemped a cut shot but was undone by the bounce and pace of Kumble, who extracted an edge.
Gilchrist followed shortly after, also beaten by bounce, caught behind off RP Singh for 55.
All but two of the dismissals were caught behind the wicket. Dhoni collected five catches. Singh finished with 4 for 68.
Chris Rogers opened his test account with four, before being trapped by left-arm medium paceman Irfan Pathan. The decision looked questionable, with the angle suggesting the ball may have drifted down legside. Phil Jaques half-heartedly drove at a full Pathan delivery, with the swing catching the outside edge. In a major blow before lunch, Mike Hussey was caught edging a cover drive off RP Singh for his first test duck.
Australia was reeling at 3/22 at the major break.
The Indian pacemen continued to exploit the Perth breeze. Ricky Ponting fended meekly at Ishant Sharma, edging to Rahul Dravid at third slip for 20. Michael Clarke had negotiated the swing better than his counterparts, until getting a faint touch off Sharma for 23.
Earlier, the Indians collapsed from 6/328 in their first innings to be all out 330. Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clark sharing the remaining wickets. Johnson finishing with 4 for 86.
The final hour was a missed opportunity for the Australian quicks, who struggled with control, rarely probing the Indian openers, despite the movement in the air. Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait were particularly wayward.
Wasim Jaffer was caught in the gully off Clark for 11 in what surely will be his final innings of the series. Nightwatchman Pathan remains unbeaten on 2.
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