Chennai Test - India vs Australia

Prem > Soprry for the late resumption of commentary. The Indians out there, and McGrath bowling with two slips and two gullies in place

Prem > Some bounce, and the ball levaing the left hander on the angle away. Ganguly leaves it go

Prem > That's in the slot. Too full, so the ball leaving on the angle is in the right slot for Ganguly to move into hisd drive, plays it to perfection through coverpoint, four. 270/3. India will have to take its batting cue from Laxman in Calcutta -- what worked, was that he kept scoring runs off all bowlers, which is the only way they can turn the pressure back on the Aussies. Bouncer, nd Ganguly goes under it. 270/3 at the end of the first over after lunch

Prem > 18 to gamnguly, 27 to Tendulkar and Warne finally gets the ball, for the second over after lunch

Prem > 121 shy, India of Aus total. Tendulkar on strike. Warne to bowl. Buzz around the ground now. One slip in place. floated on leg, and tendulkar defends

Prem > 209/3 india, warne lands the next one a couple of feet outside leg, sachin swings it around to fine leg, gets the single.

Prem > correction to the score. Typing error that, India 271/3. Warne now to Ganguly. ONly the one slip, not a sign that Warne is any too confident against the Indians. A short cover as well.

Prem > wide of off, really wide of off in fact and ganguly guides the single. Next ball, down leg and sachin paddles but doesnt connect

Prem > this time, sachin using the wrists to work from leg through square leg against the turn, gets the single. 273/3.

Prem > Shot!! Tossed up outside off, Ganguly pushes his front foot across, but inside the line, leaves himself room, and swings hard, clear and handsome, taking it from outside off, hitting with the turn, over wide long on, four to end the over. 277/3.

Prem > 29 sachin, 22 ganguly, mcgrath in to sachin on line of off with two slips in place and sachin forward, palying it out on the off. no sign of movement for mcgrath after lunch, yet

Prem > Shot!! A bit too full McGrath and Sachin quickly onto it, driving through cover on the half volley. Long chase, and two more for that. 279/3.

Prem > That one held back a bit, hits off, seams to leg, sachin shapes to tuck it to leg and misses, hit on the pad. next ball, outside off, sachin covers up and lets it through

Prem > India now 112 behind Aus. The runs slowly being chipped away and an ideal position is to go in this evening 100 to the good. McGrath, meanwhile, on off and sachin defends.

Prem > mcgrath. ourside off and bang. On the up, hit with ease, through cover, four. 283/3 with that four off the last ball of the over, hit with immense authority to a line just outside off

Prem > Hasn'tt really gone for McGrath so far, sachgin, interesting to see. Warne, wide of off, and ganguly lets it go

Prem > warne again. keeping it about a foot and a half outside off, angling across the left hander looking to turn it back. to that line, ganguly can get into trouble only if he chases, or hangs his bat at it. Here, content to push his pad into the line. that one closer to off, and ganguly bats it back down the track.

Prem > that one flighted a touch more, some overspin, on off and gentle turn to middle, ganguly plays it to short square, no run, ends the over, india 283/3.

Prem > 35 sachin, 22 ganguly, 96 overs bowled, still no new ball, mcgrath continues to sachin

Prem > wide of off, and no bounce. sachin cuts, the ball goes under the bat. Just one slip in place, which probably prompted sachin into that shot to the line he left alone all morning. sweeper in place on the off now. mcgrath again, on off angling in, nicely played wide of point, single. 284/3.

Prem > McGrath in to Ganguly, and immediately goes round the wicket, slip, gully, wider gully in place and Ganguly's gone. Outside off, Ganguly waves at it, gets the edge to the ball seaming away, and Gilchrist holds. Ganguly's tortured stay in the middle comes to an end, gone for 22 off 76 balls, 284/4 the score.

Prem > McGrath, last time, with Ganguly at the non-striker's end, asked him how his "friend" was doing. Ganguly looked shocked, then replied with a wan smile. Next ball, found himself at the batting end, McGrath went round the wicket, and took him out first ball. Here, he was clearly thinking of that, tried to hit a ball he could have easily left alone. And paid for it. Brings Dravid now to the crease.

Prem > It is now 20 Test innings since Ganguly had a 50 to his name, and the pressure of lack of runs is showing in his game. McGrath, to Dravid, swinging yorker and Dravid digs it out well.

Prem > That one kept low. Gilchrist surprised, lets it through his legs. Was snatching at that, rather than letting it get into his glove, took his fingertips, and down to third man, four byes. 287/4 india

Prem > Mcgrath, and Dravid pushes at the line just around off, thick edge, superb diving stop at slip, on the first bounce. No run, but not a particularly convincing exhibition of defence either. Ends the over, 287/4.

Prem > 5 overs, 22 runs, one wicket so far after lunch. Sachin facing Warne. One slip. Short on leg turning to off and sachin on the back foot, patting it out to mid on, no run

Prem > warne, in again, tossed it up further, just outside off, and a checked sweep, played to perfection on the half volley, two down to the fine leg region. 289/4.

Prem > warne again, to sachin. 101 behind india. short on middle and sachin onto the back foot, thumps it through cover, finds the sweeper, single and now it is Warne to Dravid.

Prem > On leg, some overspin causing it to curve in, and dravid nicely forward, defending. 291/4 india, slip, silly point, square leg up close. on line outside leg this time, quicker through the air, and dravid defends again

Prem > warne to dravid. outside off, some flight and loop, dravid drives, to mid on, reaching for the shot, and they run a rather risky single, 292/4 at the end of the over.

Prem > test

Prem > Okay, sorry for that, back llive now with Sachin batting 40 having taken a single off Warne, now in to Dravid with three round the bat. Hits line outside leg, dravid pushes it out on the on

Prem > This one is on off turning away, dravid goes back, square drives, finds coverpoint. no run. next one, too full, outside leg and dravid checks an on drive, plays it through midwicket, gets two more. 297/4.

Prem > Short, on off this time, the top spinner, lovely forcing shot from dravid and a superb stop by Hayden at backward point. Last ball, outside off turning away and left alone. End of the over, India 297/4.

Prem > Miller now takes over from McGrath. Using both quicks in short bursts, Waugh. McGrath has bowled 24, as has Warne. Today, the premier quick has taken 3/18. And Miller to Sachin, first ball, on off and down on one knee, lifts over midwicket, six. Smashing hit, and clean as a whistle. 303/4 india.

Prem > Nice little touch out on the on now, and Sachin races the single, Dravid responding well. These two run well together and here, they need to. 304/4 india, still 87 behind, and miller to dravid, slip, leg slip, short square, the on drive, checked, and dravid runs with the shot, single. 305/4.

Prem > This is better, both batsmen actively looking for singles now, which is what they didn't do this morning. On off from Miller and SAchin nicely forward to the three quarter length, defends. Next one, on off, turning, sachin steps inside the line, lets it turn past him, then just glides it to fine leg, using the fact that there is no man there, gets the four and that his his 3rd 50 of the series. 51 off 109 balls, six fours and one six. India 309/4. Miller, and sachin this time plays out on the on, finds midwicket, 12 in the miller over, his first, and India 309/4.

Prem > Warne to Dravid. Still three round the bat, one of them on the on. Warne pitching outside leg, well outside and dravid pushes his pad at it. 82 still short, india. warne in again. dravid whips into an on drive, but a bit too eager, to the overpitched ball, hits too hard, misses, lucky to find it hit the pad or gilchrist would have had a stumping. warne again, on leg and dravid defends

Prem > that's better, good use of the feet, coming down the track, to the pitch and on driving firmly, finds midwicket. Warne again, outside leg and short, Dravid quickly onto the back foot, rocks into the pull, wide of midwicket, four. That's good, not letting Warne have it his own way. 313/4 india at the end of the over

Prem > Miller resumes to Sachin. Nice line just outside off. Sachin has been trying to step outside off and play to leg, off the offie. High risk strategy that, but then, that is what he does once he belieffes he is set. Ball three tossed up on off, sachin plays on the on, no run.

Prem > OIutside off, and sachin guides the drive through cover. one more, moves to 52. india 314/4 and dravid on strike to miller. onto the front foot, on driving, finds the fielder though, no run

Prem > 10 dravid, this is the 103rd over of the indian innings, no new ball yet, waugh trying his spinners in tandem. on off, some turn in, drvaid forward, and defends.

Prem > Warne again, to Sachin. 314/4 the score, india 77 behind. slip in place and from line of middle, sachin sweeps, a controlled shot this time, finds the single behind square. 315/4.

Prem > warne now to dravid, who after his 180, seems a lot more relaxed out there and it shows in the shots he has been trying against Warne, where previously, he would stick his pad out for everything. warne in. short, outside leg, turning in and dravid rocks back and pulls, wide of mid on, good fielding there, single taken. India 316/4.

Prem > warne. very very short, really dragged that down, and with a man sweeping on the leg, Tendulkar still smashes that past him. Four. 320/4.

Prem > That was the top spinner went awry. IOn again, on leg, gentle tap on the on and before gilchrist can tidy up, they run the single, field well back for sachin and now he is milking the singles as well. 58 now and india 321/4.

Prem > 321/4 the score. Miller to Sachin, who tries to work it out on the on, finds his pad. 70 shy, india, of the aussie total. miller in again, sachin shapes to go down the track, ball dropped short, so he defends

Prem > Sachin this time, driving on the off, finds one. india 322/4. that one was a touch short, on off turning to leg, dravid goes right back, plays square on the on with the turn, and gets another single. 323/4. nice to see such rapid strike rotation here. miller agfain to sachin. gentle play on the on, slight misfield at short square and again, they are off and running. one more. 324/4.

Prem > Drinks on the field, with India 324/4 and still 67 short. Taking a breather here. Be right back

Prem > /Warne after drinks. To sachin. on off, some overspin and turn, sachin defends. batting 60, dravid 12.

Prem > That second ball tossed up a bit too much, sachin drives to mid off, but doesnt run. 324/4. 106th over, this, still the old ball, Warne to sachin again. on leg, gently played on the on and they take the run. good confident calling and running, this pair so far.

Prem > warne with a slip and silly point, no short square now, to dravid. pitches leg and dravid defends

Prem > warne again. to dravid, short on off and superb footwork that. quick as a flash onto the back foot, lets it bounce, then thumps it off the back foot through cover, four to end the over. India 328/4 in 106 overs

Prem > 61 sachin, 16 dravid, miller resumes to sachin with a slip and now a short square after sachin twice stepped inside the line and tried to play to leg. that one is pushed through outside off, first ball of the over, sachin jumps back and cuts, but finds point. in again, miller and this time, sachin goes back, plays with the turn on the on and gets one more. 330/4.

Prem > 61 still short, india with 6 wickets in hand. barring the one two-Test series against SA, SAchin so far has had at least one century in each series, and now seems set to continue his run at Madras. Looking very dominant now, meanwhile, dravid content to defend outside off

Prem > 16, dravid, on strike to miller. on off, some turn in and dravid defends, to end the over.

Prem > warne continues. outside leg, the paddle sweep, but finds short fine leg, no run. warne again, with just the one slip, again the paddle but played a bit wider and they get the single. 331/4.

Prem > 60 still to go for india to draw level. which is merely the first step. warne now to drvaid, slip, silly point and short cover, rest of the field spread. tossed up on off, some curve, lots of turn and no bounce. dravid into line, the ball turns well past the bat which in any bcase was tucked behind the pad. warne again. and dravid quickly onto the fuller length on leg, on driving effortlessly, splits the bowler and mid on, four. 335/4.

Prem > 20 runs dravid, and 50 for the 5th wicket off 67 balls, good going. 335/4 india, warne to dravid, too full, dravid takes it on the full outside leg and blasts it wide of mid on, four more. 339/4 india, two fours in that over.

Prem > 42 runs off the last 8 overs, 108 bowled so far in the innings, miller resumes to sachin who again goes a long way to off, and glides to on across his stumps, long chase for fine leg, two more. 341/4.

Prem > miller again to sachin. slip and short square. sachin forward, then waits, lets it come in, taps it out to midwicket, man there on the line and they race two more. 343/4.

Prem > 34th over, miller, now going for 103 and counting. in to sachin, short, outside off, rocks back and square drives, to the sweeper, single. 344/4.

Prem > miller to dravid, a silly point joining the other two close fielders, dravid lunges a long way forward and defends

Prem > 47 runs still behind, India, miller to dravid. on the front foot, defensive push, no run, india 344/4 at the end of the over

Prem > 17 overs, 78 runs, and ganguly's wicket this session so far. very quick rate this, and mark waugh now takes over from shane warne. 344/4 as warne comes in to sachin, who goes back and taps out on the on and takes the single. 345/4.

Prem > waugh to dravid. one slip, and dravid quickly back, flicking with the wrist along with the turn, takes the single. 346/4

Prem > waugh, floats one up on off and sachin forward, defending

Prem > and agian, good flight, some loop, very full and sachin checks the push on the on, no run. next ball, a bit short, and sachin forces on the off against the turn but finds the other waugh there at cover. no run

Prem > end of the over, india 346/4, sachin 69 and dravid now on strike, to miller. ball one outside off, a touch short and dravid goes right across, gets low, extends the arms, gets the bat under it and lofts over midiwcket, four. superbly hit shot, followed by the walk across the stumps and the flick out to fine leg, single. 350/4 and aus now 40 ahead

Prem > Miller outside off, and sachin forward, gnetly defensii. Next one, same line, sachin cuts, well fielded at point, no run

Prem > that's cheeky. stayed back, let the ball pitch outside off, then just pushed his bat at it to take it behind point, single. 347/4.

Prem > miller to draivd, quick ball that, turned in as well, dravid kept his eye on it, plays out on the on, single, 352/4 india at the end ofthe over

Prem > 111 overs gone. 352/4 and waugh resumes to sachin.batting 70, dravid 30. full length, and sachin guides a shot to point, single. 353/4.

Prem > mark waugh to dravid. india 38 behind. and that is nicely played, off the back foot, with the turn, to midwicket, single. 354/4.

Prem > OUtside off, sachin square drives, finds point. next ball, forward, defending, no run, end of the over, india 354/4.

Prem > 70 off 93 so far, this partnership, as miller resumes to dravid. nice ball on off, and played out on the on. 354/4. 37 short, india. miller again to dravid, slip, silly point, short square, and drvaid quickly onto a flighted ball, on drives, yet again hits it flush, four more. 358/4.

Prem > miller again. to dravid, and again the on drive but this time, the bat face shut a bit, finds mid on on the shot

Prem > 33 short india, miller to dravid, outside off and dravid pushes his pad at it

Prem > 358/4, and dravid this time is in prime touch. onto the back foot, letting the ball curve back in with the spin, then forcing through cover against the line on the up. very hard shot, played very well. two more. India 360/4.

Prem > 360/4 india. 113 overs gone. And finally, the new ball taken.

Prem > The flow of runs against spin forcing Waugh's hand here. Gillespie to bowl the first over with the second new ball. 21-5-58-0 so far, Jason.

Prem > Ow... the first one kicked off a length. sachin defensive, gets it high on the bat and takes his hand away feelingtthat jolt. Next ball, outside off, and driven. well fielded at mid off, single taken, 361/4.

Prem > 30 still short india. game dead even now. either aus keeps india from leading by too much, and goes back into the box seat, or India get away from the aussies, which means the tourists are down and, with the need to bat last, out. gillespie to dravid, flicked on the on, single. 362/4. now to sachin, outside off, some lift, and sachin lets it through

Prem > gillespie, and a quick ball that. angling in, hitting just outside off and rushing through, sachin covers the line and lets it go

Prem > 72 sachin, off 149 balls. facing gillespie, just outside off coming in, and pushed to point, no run, 362/4 india at the end of the over

Prem > mcgrath, for the second over with the second new ball. dravid the man on strike, and leaving one through outside off

Prem > 3/54 mcgrath thus far, 3/18 today. in agian to dravid. good speed, nice length on off and dravid forward, plays it back

Prem > mcgrath, to dravid. on off, some lift, dravid solidly behind it, defends. batting 37.

Prem > 362/4 india. 29 short. mcgrath to dravid. short ball and smashed, the pull, didnt time it well, though, gets just one wide of mid on. had the roll of the wrist right, but hit it off the toe of the bat, not the middle. single.

Prem > on off, mcgrath, and sachin defends. 363/4.

Prem > mcgrath, to sachin. problems with the sightscreen, lull in play here

Prem > It's damn strange, to see cops and others just walking around, in front of the screen. Wonder what they think it is there for. all set now, mcgrath in again to sachin. 363/4. wide of off, and left alone, end of the over.

Prem > 363/4. sachin 72, dravid 38, gillespie in to dravid, on off and played out on the off, no run

Prem > Gillespie, inswing, too full though and dravid immediately onto that. going nicely on his knee to the drive, through cover, four. immense confidence now, dravid, and playing his shots right off the middle. 367/4

Prem > Gillespie to Dravid, now batting 42. on off and nicely forward in defence this time.

Prem > gillespie in to dravid, on off and dravid defends, the push going to point. no run

Prem > Gillespie again, outside off and dravid lets it go. end of the over, 367/4 india

Prem > mcgrath, to sachin. short. just outside off and sachin sways out of line.

Prem > 83 runs off 117 this partnerhsip, as compared to 47 off 158 between sachin and ganguly. another short one and again, sachin sways away from line. 367/4, this is the 117th over.

Prem > and again. on off and lifting, sachin sways out of line and now stands up and holds mcgrath's eye. holds it till mcgrath turns away. McGrath asking SAchin to hook, Sachin stands there without a blink. Another short ball, and Sachin just ducks under it

Prem > Last ball, outside off, McGrath completes the follow through as sachin lets it go, then has something to say and this time, sachin says something right back. Okay, the needle seems to be really on now.

Prem > gillespie continues. ball one, on off and dravid gently plays out on that side of the track,. india 367/4, now just 24 short. and with one full session still to go

Prem > gillespie, two slilps in place, to dravid on off nd dravid defends

Prem > gillespie, to drvavid. outside off, too full, and again, dravid flashing into that cover drive, classically executed, four more. 371/4. second over in succession that dravid has played that shot.

Prem > Bouncer, in retaliation, and dravid goes under it. Meanwhile, one thing I am curious about, the rule is two bouncers in an over tops -- but McGrath in that one, pitched every ball short, several climbing over Sachin. Wonder why no one said anything -- Sachin didn't seem to mind, one nbit, but that is not the pointreally. Meanwhile, another bouncer, gillespie to dravid. who sways away again.

Prem > gillespie to dravid. short again, angled in and dravid defends, india 371/4.

Prem > mcgrath resumes, to sachin. outside off, and he lets it go.

Prem > mcgrath, to sachin. round the wicket, and short again. and again, sachin goes under it

Prem > mcgrath to achin. this one on off and sachin bats it back down the track.

Prem > mcgrath, to sachin. bouncer, wide of leg and sachin unruffled again. end of the over, 371/4.

Prem > 119 oves gone. sachinb batting 72. and mathew hayden being given the ball, final over before tea. single to dravid out on the on side, 372/4.

Prem > sachin in his turn, plays it out on the on, one more. 373/4.

Prem > uh oh, dravid played that to mid on, then some yes no stuff, seems like they are losing that concentration seeing tea approaching. almost got sachin run out there. hayden again, and dravid plays out on the on. no run.

Prem > hayden, down leg stump line this time and dravid flicks, gets the single, 374/4 and now india trailing 17.

Prem > hayden, to sachin. short outside off, cut away, four. superbly played, and that is tea. 378/4 india, trailing by 13 runs. Tendulkar 77, Dravid 48. 28 overs, 112 runsand just the one wicket in this session. And as we go in for the tea break with India 378/4 off 120 overs, bye for a bit to the 6315 people now following this.

Prem > *gone, for 10*

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