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 Adelaide,
Dec 14: Rahul Dravid and V V S Laxman joined forces to
torment Australia yet again with a monumental 303-run
partnership as India staged a fabulous fight back in the
second cricket Test here today. After two days of
Australian domination, Dravid and Laxman (148) brought
back memories of their epic association at the Eden
Gardens two years ago to not only script a stunning
recovery but throw the match wide open. The pair, who came
together yesterday with the visitors reeling at 85 for
four, set the Adelaide Oval ablaze with some amazing shots
during their marathon partnership which shattered
Australian hopes of taking a huge first innings lead.
Dravid
was batting on 199 and Anil Kumble on one as India reached
477 for seven at stumps on the third day, still 79 runs
behind Australia's total of 556. It was Dravid's 16th Test
ton and first Down Under while Laxman's century was the
sixth of his career and third against the world champions.
The duo bettered the previous record for the highest fifth
wicket stand in Adelaide which had belonged to Australia's
Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting who put on 239 against the
Indians in 1999-2000.
It was
Dravid and Laxman who authored India's revival in the last
Test series between the two teams in 2001. The duo had
then recorded 376 runs for the fifth wicket partnership in
Kolkata as India, following on, went on to win the Test
and eventually clinch the three-match series 2-1. By the
time Laxman departed at the stroke of tea, caught behind
by Adam Gilchrist off Andy Bichel, their association had
consumed 563 balls and spanned 357 minutes.
 Laxman
earned an early reprieve on 65 when Ricky Ponting, diving
to his right, grassed him in the slip cordon. That turned
out to be a costly miss for Australia as the batsman and
his partner proceeded to bat them out of the match. Dravid
brought up his century with a mistimed hook off Jason
Gillespie that sailed over the fine-leg fence. His hundred
came off 223 balls and included 10 boundaries and a six.
Laxman then notched up his sixth career hundred, and third
against Australia, that needed 209 balls and included 12
fours.
Resuming
at 180 for four, Dravid and Laxman extended their
association to 200 which came after a 258-minute vigil and
from 405 balls.Waugh, realising the batsmen-friendly
nature of the Adelaide Oval track, tried to stifle the run
flow by resorting to a leg-side attack. Leg-spinner Stuart
MacGill came around the stumps but Laxman responded
brilliantly with a demonstration of batting footwork.
The
sub-continental artistry was on display as the
right-hander stepped outside the line and drove MacGill
through the cover region. When the bowler reverted to over
the wicket, he promptly clipped him to the square leg
fence. The captain then brought himself on and almost
produced a wicket when a Laxman pull shot ballooned up but
fell in no man's land in the deep. India's scoring rate
was not as frenetic as the Australians but runs came at a
steady pace of over 3.5 an over which declined a bit only
towards the end of the day when the batsmen tried to
consolidate their position and preserve the wickets for
tomorrow.
It was
also unlike the Aussies when their shoulders drooped and
misfielding became a common recurrence. Even their
38-year-old captain was a symbol of weariness as he let
balls pass through with a tired approach. The hosts also
suffered a blow when right arm fast bowler injured his
left shoulder while making a diving stop near the ropes.
He was taken to hospital immediately and his chances of
bowling again in the match remained doubtful. Dravid and
Laxman built their innings brick by brick, playing with
caution against a carefully set field.
Having
started the day on 43 to Laxman's 55, Dravid picked up his
pace sufficiently to be the first one to reach the three
figure mark and with a stirring hooked six off Jason
Gillespie over the fine leg. Laxman did not take long to
reach his own coveted mark, flicking Stuart MacGill for a
single as the double hundred for the stand was realised
too. The second new ball seemed to have little effect and
a stunning cover drive by Laxman off Bichel brought the
300 on the Indian board. But Laxman fell to the very next
ball, an extravagant slash ending in a simple nick to Adam
Gilchrist.
Bichel
was rewarded for his efforts and finished the day with
four for 114. India lost two wickets to the unorthodox
left-arm spin of Simon Katich in the final session as
Australia tried to work their way through the Indian lower
order. Parthiv Patel (31), after batting handsomely for 65
minutes, drove a catch to extra cover region and then Ajit
Agarkar pulled a catch into the midwicket region. Dravid,
unbeaten on 193 at this stage, started to shield Anil
Kumble from fast bowlers in a bid to stretch the Indian
innings. Dravid has so far batted for eight hours and 41
minutes during which he faced 385 balls and hit 19 fours
and a six. (Agencies) Scorecard
Published:
Friday, December 14, 2003
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