Aussies subdue Indians - Scorecard
Melbourne, Dec 27: India first meekly surrendered six wickets for a mere 16 runs and then allowed Australia to rattle up an imposing 317 for three to leave the home side on top at the end of second day's play in the third cricket Test here today. Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting blazed away to individual centuries as their powerful batting side was only 49 runs behind India's total of 366, which represented a slump from the overnight score of 329 for four. Left-hand opener Hayden struck a powerful 136 and Ponting was still posing an ominous threat to the visitors, remaining unbeaten on 120 with batsmen like Steve Waugh and Simon Katich still to come in.

In a pathetic display after their Adelaide heroics, India were bowled out in about an hour's batting this morning and then their bowlers could not rein in the Australian batting although Justin Langer (14) and Adam Gilchrist (14) fell cheaply. In two days, a total of 683 runs have been made by the two teams which points to a decisive result in the match with three days left and with today's showing, the Indians were on the backfoot. At stumps, Damien Martyn was giving company to Ponting on seven.

After bowling out India in just 13 overs this morning, Australia were off to a cautious start. When Justin Langer (14) was caught at point swishing at widish half volley from Ajit Agarkar, India's stranglehold on the world champions appeared to continue. But their grip quickly slackened and soon the Australians were running away with Ponting and Hayden determined to make amends for the Adelaide show. The duo's 234-run stand for the second wicket was Australia's second highest ever against India, falling only two short of the 236 between Syd Barnes and Donald Bradman at Adelaide dating back to 1947 during India's first tour Down Under.

Smarting under the criticism that their sheer arrogance led to their batting downfall in the second innings at Adelaide, the home batsmen put their head down and batted with a determination not seen in the series before. There was none of the belligerence that is associated with the record-breaking Hayden. The gay abandonment with which Ponting bats was also missing. Both the players' performance today was underlined by a single-mindedness to collar the opposition bowling. Hayden reached his century, his third against India, in 136 balls with a dozen fours and a six, and continued his domination over Ganguly's bowlers from the historic 2001 series in the subcontinent.

Ponting was comparatively subdued during his century that came from 172 balls and contained nine fours. Yet, the runs came at a steady and brisk pace. That 333 runs in all were scored in the day belied the fact that the two-paced pitch was not entirely batsmen-friendly. From 35 for one at lunch, the Aussie scoreline zoomed to 149 at tea and the 200 came in 47.5 overs. The just above-four run rate might not have been typically Australian as the hosts had piled up a record 400 on the first day at Adelaide but it did pack the power enough to squeeze the life out of the Indian bowling and fielders. Also causing worry to the Indians must have been the sight of a half-fit Zaheer Khan limping in his run-up instead of firing on all cylinders.

That their premier strike bowler was laid low by the hamstring injury which kept him out of the Adelaide Test was a major handicap for Sourav Ganguly on a day when the Australian batting regained its famed awe. Except for the momentary lapse when Hayden was caught napping mid-pitch and survived only because Zaheer Khan's throw from the deep was wide off the mark, the concentration of the batsmen hardly wavered. The purpose with which Hayden went after Anil Kumble was admirable as it showed his cricketing acumen. With the odd ball keeping low, Kumble was the likely bowler to cause trouble.

But the burly left-hander attacked him from the outset, and, till the moment he was out LBW to the bowler under lengthening shadows, he employed the sweep shot effectively to gain a psychological edge. As a matter of fact, Hayden brought up his century with a swing over midwicket off Kumble. After reaching the milestone, however, Hayden allowed the marauder in him to take control as he hit Ashish Nehra through the line with utter disdain. The urge to savage the opposition might have led to his dismissal when he swept once too often at Kumble and was beaten by the low bounce.

Adam Gilchrist was promoted up the order to pummel the Indians into submission but that move failed when the left-hander mistimed a lofted drive against the leg spinner and was caught at mid off. Earlier, India lost their way once Ganguly's promising innings of 37 was cut short. There was no hint of any such collapse in the morning when overnight batsman Ganguly hit his stride early, thumping Brett Lee for three glorious offside fours before hanging out his bat for a catch in the gully. Ganguly made 37 from one-and-a-half hours of batting, smashing six fours from 63 balls before his dismissal opened the floodgates for Australia.

Parthiv Patel and Ajit Agarkar returned to the pavilion without adding a run to board. MacGill then exorcised a few ghosts when he had V V S Laxman caught by Hayden in the slip before Nehra became his third victim. The tourists gained only 88 runs for the last nine wickets after cruising at 278 for one at one stage. Scorecard (Agencies)

Published: Friday, December 27, 2003

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