James Pattinson is not happy about his delivery to India's Gautam Gambhir. Photo: Sebastian Costanzo
FINAL SCORE: India all out for 169 (chasing 292). Sharma 6 not out
The fourth day's play at the MCG didn't quite pan out entirely as expected but the triumphant Australians won't be complaining! The home nation has won the first Test by 122 runs to gain the early advantage in this series and the chase for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
On behalf of Rohan Connolly and myself (Scott Spits), it's been a pleasure to share this live blog with all of you over the past four days. Rohan will be back in the chair on day one at the SCG next week, so don't forget to jump right in from the first ball.
See you all next week.
If you wish to comment on this blog, please turn off the auto-refresh function by clicking on the 'off' button above.
Teams: Australia: Michael Clarke (capt), David Warner, Ed Cowan, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mitchell Starc (12th man). India: MS Dhoni (capt), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, VVS Laxman, Ravichandran Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav. (12th man not named).
4:59pm - That's all for our live blog coverage of the First Test. It's been an absorbing match with many twists and turns. I'm thoroughly looking forward to the rest of the series and what will unfold in the next few weeks.
4:53pm - Pattinson gets player-of-the-match honours. Six wickets for the match for the emerging star ... he's bound to be a fixture in the Australian team for some time yet.
4:47pm - The Australians are a relieved lot. What a Test victory. At the start of the day most observers expected a fight to the finish but, in the end, the Australians won comfortably. Many heroes have emerged but second innings knocks from Ponting and Hussey basically saved Australia's bacon. Then the paceman tore through the Indian top order. Again.
4:40pm - THE FINAL WICKET! Australia wins the first Test. Yadav is out holing out in the deep off the bowling of Lyon. Warner takes an acrobatic catch just inside the rope at long on. That was just two balls after the same batsman had cleared the fence in the same spot with a massive shot.
4:28pm - Some decent chin music for the tailenders. Don't the Australians just want to wrap the match up? Pitch the ball up and knock over the cage! Instead they are relying on a form of intimidation.
4:15pm - ANOTHER WICKET! The second collapse of the innings, but this time it's the tail. Pattinson gets Dhoni, the last of the recognised batsmen. An inside edge from Dhoni cannons into the stumps. Not the first time this match for that form of dismissal.
4:06pm - WICKET! Victory edges closer for Australia. Pattinson grabs Khan's wicket. Batsmen gets a thick inside edge onto his thigh pad and the catch is taken by Cowan. Pattinson's third wicket and Cowan's third catch for the innings.
3:52pm - New batsman Khan yet to get off the mark. Feeling around this game now of what changes either team needs to make for the next Test ... really only a few days away. I can't see Australia making any changes, assuming that Shane Watson is still unavailable. Your thoughts dear readers?
3:39pm - WICKET! Just when you start asking the wrong questions. Ashwin the dasher is the one to depart. Siddle grabs another wicket, removing the Indian with a short ball. Ashwin fended off the short ball, but it popped up for Cowan to take an easy catch.
3:32pm - Back in the seat. Another 50 runs here from the Dhoni/Ashwin combination and some questions might be asked. At the very least Hilfy and Pattinson might be rushed back into the bowling line-up. Pronto.
3:12pm - THAT'S TEA. And what a stunning session of cricket. India went to lunch one wicket down and two hours later their second innings is in shambles. Almost all the big names are back in the pavilion. India 6/117 after 33 overs.
3:09pm - Three boundaries in one over for India. Ashwin not going to go down wondering, reaching 27 not out from 28 deliveries. Siddle felt this wrath that over, putting a dent on impressive figures.
3:04pm - India creeps past the 100-run mark and this pairing has put on 24 runs for the seventh wicket. Tea is getting closer.
2:57pm - Nathan Lyon gets his opportunity. The three quicks currently have two wickets each. Let's see who can close out the innings and stake their claim for man-of-the-match honours.
2:44pm - Excuse me while I catch my breath. India has collapsed like the proverbial pack of cards. It has been Australia-like in some respects (at least reminiscent of events in recent weeks). Tendulkar started to chase runs as he ran out of partners at the other end. Then he became the next to go. Bring on the SCG ....
2:39pm - YET ANOTHER WICKET! This time they get Tendulkar. Siddle removes the maestro caught flashing outside off stump with the catch taken by Hussey in the fourth slip region. It's official now ladies and gentlemen. Australia will win this Test. It's only a matter of time now.
2:33pm - What a dramatic period since the drinks break. India loses three wickets to turn the match completely in Australia's favour. Bowlers are fired up. Hilfenhaus, Pattinson and Siddle all getting in on the act. I really didn't see this unfolding like this ...
2:25pm - ANOTHER WICKET! India five wickets down. Surely Australia can't lose from here. Kohli goes for a golden duck. Hilfenhaus was the bowler. India 5/69 chasing 292 for win. Captain Dhoni to join Sachin at the wicket in an hour of desperate need.
2:21pm - WICKET! Big trouble now for India. Laxman goes out cheaply and Tendulkar may run out of partners! Laxman flicked a ball straight to Cowan at square leg and catch was smartly taken.
2:09pm - The removal of Dravid still leaves Tendulkar as the main man. Laxman yet to get off the mark after facing seven balls. Very interesting that Michael Clarke had strong words with Pattinson straight after his wicket. Just a reminder to him to keep his head down perhaps.
1:58pm - WICKET! Pattinson takes down Dravid's pegs! What a ball. A cracking delivery that tore through the Indian veteran's defences. And, rightfully, the Victorian is pumped in his home Test.
1:50pm - The Little Master is really making his mark. He has raced to 15 not out from just 22 balls. Could the Tendulkar-Dravid combination prove Australia's undoing? The storyline is set up for Sachin to reach triple figures and guide them to victory. India at 2/55 in the 19th over. Watch this space.
1:28pm - The great Sachin Tendulkar comes to the wicket. First ball and the Little Master delivers a classic cover drive. It doesn't go to the boundary but there's three runs straight up.
1:25pm - WICKET! Another breakthrough for Australia. Siddle strikes this time, a cutting delivery finding Gambhir's edge and a regulation catch was safely taken by Ricky Ponting at second slip. The game takes another twist.
1:14pm - The interval is over, back with the grind. Very handy start for India in the first over after lunch, Dravid drives a boundary from Hilfy's final delivery. That came after four leg byes from the previous delivery. All valuable runs.
12:34pm - That's lunch. India reaches 1/24 chasing a more-than-tricky 292 for victory. Sehwag a big wicket for Australia but, gee whiz, the tourists have a deep batting line-up. Grab a drink and lunch everyone. We're set for a huge middle session as part of a compelling fourth day. Be back with you after the break.
12:20pm - WICKET! And it's Sehwag who's out. The swashbuckling opener swashes a shot to the gully region and the catch is snapped up by Mike Hussey. Ben Hilfenhaus grabs another wicket to follow-up from his five-for in the first innings. Outstanding catch from Hussey in the fifth slip spot (approximately).
12:13pm - Bit of everything in the start to India's innings. No Sehwag fireworks just yet. Bit of a verbal clashe between Hilfenhaus and Gambhir after the Indian opener pulled away late and the bowler had to withdraw from his delivery. All nice ingredients for a pulsating finish to this Test match.
11:59am - India's innings is underway. For those who have any interest in the outcome of the Sydney-to-Hobart protest (are you out there anyone?) we haven't heard any news yet. An 'international jury' is still weighing up the allegation from the race's committee's about the winner's tactics.
11:46am - WICKET! India finally snares the final Australian wicket. Hilfenhaus is the last man gone for a handy 14 runs. Pattinson earns not out honours for both innings in this match. The final partnership put on 43 runs. What an intriguing finish we are left with. India to chase 292 for victory.
11:40am - Overall lead extends beyond 280 runs. This is getting to a critical stage for India. Let's take a look at the statistics. The tourists are getting towards a figure that would be the highest successful fourth innings chase in nearly 60 years. South Africa managed 4-297 back in 1953 ...
11:34am - That's drinks. Australia has put on 50 runs in the hour's play. Critical runs being accrued by the home side. Will we yet see a fifth day's play at the MCG? Perhaps that wishful (or perverse) thinking.
11:29am - Pattinson is the man, reaching his highest first class score (32 not out). The paceman just looks remarkably composed at the crease. India may yet rue a dropped catch in the outfield earlier this morning when Pattinson hooked a delivery only for the tricky chance to be dropped at fine leg.
11:14am - Pattinson playing a great low order knock here. He's raced to 17 not out with no more batsmen waiting in the changerooms. Each run could be incredibly valuable for Australia. Overall lead hovering around the 260 mark.
11:00am - WICKET! Hussey is gone this time. India gets one of the two wickets they desperately crave. Terrific delivery from Zaheer Khan that left Hussey tight and he nicked the ball through to 'keeper Dhoni. It was just short of a length and the Australian feathered the ball. Out for 89 runs. Great knock under adversity.
10:55am - How the tide turns .... Indians go up for and appeal with Hussey seemingly tickling a Yadav delivery down the leg side and caught by Dhoni. Umpire Marais Erasmus gives the decision NOT OUT but the Hot Spot video review shows the Australian just got bat to the ball. There's no DRS .... no review for the tourists. That evens up the equation for Hussey after his first innings howler!
10:43am - A steady start by Australia. They've added eight runs in three overs. Pattinson left one delivery from Yadav that rocketed back at him and caught him flush on the thigh above the pads ... too close to the sensitive region for my liking.
10:32am - We're underway in bright conditions at the MCG. James Pattinson is at the striker's end. He's three not out. Mike Hussey (79 not out) is eyeing off what would be an incredibly satisfying century.
10:12am - Some big off-field news is coming through. Shane Watson has been released to go home and 'continue his rehab program'. He's not officially out of contention for next week's SCG Test but his chances are slim. The all-rounder has been in camp with the Australian side this week as he recovers from hamstring and calf injuries which also caused him to miss the two-Test series against New Zealand.
10:02am - Good morning everyone. It's Scott Spits here taking over from Rohan Connolly for the fourth day's play at the MCG. And what a cracking day's play it should be. We're likely to get a winner today. But the intriguing question is just what target will prove beyond India's reach. Not out batsman Mike Hussey will need valuable support from the Aussie tail to ensure the target is large.
0 comments:
Post a Comment