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Watson-Haddin Heroics Help Australia Gain Advantage

BANGALORE - Despite having passed through some anxious moments late in the day after the Indian bowlers came up with some brilliant performance, Australian batsmen braved through a gruelling session on a pitch that was increasingly becoming difficult to bat on to give the visitors a slight edge over the hosts. After having finally wiped out the Indian tail who continued to frustrate the visitors for over an hour on the fourth day, Australia found themselves in serious trouble after a sudden burst from the Indian bowlers later in the day.

But a useful unbeaten 65-run partnership between Shane Watson and Brad Haddin ensured that Australia finished the day at 193 for five in their second innings, giving a healthy lead of 263 runs on the fourth day of the first Test here at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday.

Watson and Haddin began the rescue act and revived the struggling Australian innings which was tottering at 128 for five. Watson (32 not out) got into the act immediately as soon as he arrived and did not allow the bowlers to dictate terms and Haddin did well to ease the pressure off his partner to remain unbeaten on 28. This also boosted the Australia’s runrate which was woefully just above two before they arrived.

Simon Katich should be blamed for the visitors tofall to such a situation as his over three-hour stay in the middle fetched only a painstaking 34 consuming 140 deliveries.

He scored his first boundary in the 97^th ball. He shared a 50-run partnership with first innings centurion Michael Hussey (31) but gave clear indications that Australia were in no hurry to pile on the runs. But the partnership was crucial since Australia had lost Matthew Hayden and skipper Ricky Ponting early on. Hayden who was unlucky for the second time departed after umpire Asad Rauf obliged to Zaheer Khan’s shout for a leg-before. Ponting went through a tough time tackling his nemesis Harbhajan Singh. With all fielders packed around him, it made him nearly impossible to score. His innings finally came to an end after he was lured into playing an offcutter that was bowled around his legsonly to be caught by Laxman at short mid-on. Credit should go to the Indian bowlers who with their limited option bowled a tidy line and made the Australian batsmen work hard for every run.

After skipper Anil Kumble was unavailable for most part of the day due to a nagging shoulder injury and could not bowl till the 53^rd over, Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma bowled well in tandem. Harbhajan Singh continued the good work and found turn and bounce in the breaking pitch to give the match an interesting turn picking two crucial wickets of Katich and Hussey. While Hussey fell to a topspinner that hit a crack and took the off stump, Katich perished trying to fend a high-bouncing delivery to silly mid off. With Clark, who is yet to find form in this series, back in the hut after Ishant Sharma’s slower one completely deceived him, Australia were in a state of bother before the unbeaten stand saved the day for the visitors.

Australia need enough runs on board to ensure they are safe considering the powerful batting line up India as if they were to hope a positive result from this match.

Earlier in the day, after Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan had frustrated the Aussies overnight and reduced the deficit, Indian tailenders kept the Australian attack at bay. Australian bowlers finally wrapped the innings after Anil Kumble was trapped in front by Watson and Ishant was bowled by Michael Clark. Zaheer went on to score his second half century in Tests to remain unbeaten at 57 to take the Indian tally to a satisfying 360.