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Aussies begin well

Last updated on: October 4, 2010 18:55 IST
Shane Watson plays a cover drive

Openers Shane Watson and Simon Katich gave Australia the perfect start in their second innings, in the first Test, in Mohali, on Monday morning.

Both were aggressive to begin with and took the attack to the Indian pacers.

India skipper MS Dhoni was forced to bring on a spinner as early as the sixth over to reduce the tempo a bit.

Watson was the more aggressive of the two, hitting seven boundaries and one huge six.

Ishant strikes

Last updated on: October 4, 2010 18:55 IST
Ishant Sharma celebrates after dismissing Ricky Ponting

Dhoni brought Ishant back into the attack and the pacer delivered. He first dismissed Watson, who played on after a good innings.

The right-hander was back in the pavilion after scoring for 56 off 59 balls.

Ishant then had Australia skipper Ricky Ponting caught at square leg by Suresh Raina for just four in the same over.

Ishant could have had another wicket -- that of Michael Clarke -- had he not bowled a no-ball. However, he had his man in the next over, when he hurried Michael Clarke into a shot. The ball caught his gloves and was safely pouched by Dhoni behind the stumps.

Spinners stifle Aussie batsmen

Last updated on: October 4, 2010 18:55 IST
Harbhajan Singh celebrates after dismissing Marcus North

The spinners then stifled the Aussie batsmen, drying up the runs and creating extra pressure.

Pragyan Ojha got into the action as he got an edge of Simon Katich, which was brilliantly taken by Dhoni.

Harbhajan Singh, who has had a quite match so far, then struck. He first had Mike Hussey (28) trapped leg before, and then Marcus North caught at silly point brilliantly by substitute Cheteshwar Pujara for 10.

Fiery Zaheer cleans up the tail

Last updated on: October 4, 2010 18:55 IST
Zaheer Khan

Zaheer Khan then utilised reverse swing to good effect and cleaned up the tail.

The oleft arm pacer dismissed Nathan Hauritz and Ben Hilfenhaus, to finish with three wickets for 43 in the second innings as Australia were bundled out for 192.

For India, Harbhajan and Ojha took two wickets apiece.

Australia strike early

Last updated on: October 4, 2010 18:55 IST
Doug Bollinger celebrates after dismissing Rahul Dravid as Virender Sehwag looks on

Chasing 216 for victory, India failed to get off to the desired start and were left tottering at 55 for four at close of play on Day 4.

Gautam Gambhir (0), who was given leg before to Ben Hilfenhaus, should consider himself distinctly unlucky. He was
done in by a Billy Bowden howler as television replays showed that the ball got a thick inside edge before hitting the pads.

Rahul Dravid (13) was the next to go with the score on 31. Dravid got a good away-going delivery from Doug Bollinger which kissed the edge of his bat and landed straight into Tim Paine's gloves.

Hilfenhaus on fire

Last updated on: October 4, 2010 18:55 IST
The Australian team celebrates after dismissing Virender Sehwag

After the fall of Dravid, Virender Sehwag (17) and Suresh Raina (0) were expected to steady India's ship.

However, that was not to be as both batsmen became victims of short-pitched bowling.

Sehwag just poked at a rising delivery from Hilfenhaus which was gleefully accepted by Mike Hussey at gully.
Raina, known for his susceptibility against short, rising deliveries, took his eyes off and the leading edge flew to Marcus North wide third slip.

Hopes rest on Tendulkar

Last updated on: October 4, 2010 18:55 IST
Sachin Tendulkar

After seeing the crumbling of the top-order, Dhoni decided to send in night watchman Zaheer Khan to hold fort with Sachin Tendulkar.

Sachin, who missed a century by just two runs in the first innings, looked composed during his 25-ball unbeaten 10
and will be the man who has to score the bulk of the remaining 161 runs if India to win the Test.

An action-packed last hour of the day, saw Australia peg back India and the hosts still need 161 runs for a win with six wickets intact.