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Sachin Misses Record as India Thwart Australian Victory Bid

bangalore - On a day when Australia threw a challenge giving India a gettable target, the hosts went into a shell and preferred to play it safe from the word go thus ensuring the first Test match ended in a tame draw.

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting took a bold decision declaring the innings after the visitors batted for 32 minutes and added 35 runs to the overnight tally of 193 on the fifth day morning here at the Chinnaswamy stadium giving India a realistic target of 299 to achieve in minimum 83 overs.

But the daringness and the positive approach that Ponting adopted seemed to be missing in the Indian dressing room with the celebrated Indian batting line up not going for the kill.

Australia’s effort to finish of the match on a high was thwarted by two crucial half-century partnerships that Sachin Tendulkar shared with Gautam Gambhir and VVS Laxman and bad light interrupting play close to an hour in two sessions preventing the skipper from using his pace bowlers and forcing him to employ his limited spin option.

Australia began well to get two quick wickets early on that included the destructive Virender Sehwag and the dependable Rahul Dravid within the first nine overs. Sehwag, who was the brighter hope for India to chase down this target, was caught at first slip by Hayden after having survived the previous Brett Lee over when Brad Haddin dropped a relatively easy catch.

Rahul Dravid, who fared well in the first innings, perished when he flicked Lee to short midwicket and Ponting dived to his right to grab a stunning catch.

India were precariously placed at 24 for 2, when Tendulkar joined Gambhir. Both shared an incredibly valuable 53-run stand for the third wicket keeping the visitors at bay.

When things were looking good, Mitchell Johnson, who had a successful outing in the first innings scalping four wickets, struck to clean bowl Gambhir with a slow off-cutter.

Tendulkar continued with his good work and held the innings firm, tackling the pacers comfortably.

Things were looking good for the master blaster as he looked all set for the big moment of surpassing the Brian Lara’s all-time Test runs record.

But the memorable moment came for debutant Cameron White who picked up Tendulkar’s wicket, his first victim in Tests.

White flighted a delivery inducing Tendulkar into an airy shot that was pocketed at cover by Michael Clarke. Tendulkar made 49 runs and now needs 15 runs to cross Lara’s 11,953.

But the 61-run partnership, Tendulkar shared with Laxman and occupying the crease for over two hours put paid to Australian hopes of tasting a victory. Laxman, who unlike in the first innings, played a matured innings and concentrated hard.

Once he found his rhythm, the elegant right-hander found it easy defending the Australian attack along with Sourav Ganguly who held firm at the other end before bad light interrupted the day’s proceedings.

Australia did miss a frontline slow bowler in this situation. Clarke and White bowled 38 overs between them and though they troubled the batsmen, they lacked the quality to pick up some quick wickets.

When play resumed after two interruptions, Australia could do little and the match finally was called off with Laxman remaining unbeaten on 42 and Ganguly not out on 26 taking the Indian tally to 177 for 4 in 73 overs.

With the Fab Four coming up with a relatively good performance, it should do a world of good for them when India take on Australia in the second Test in Mohali starting on October 17.