| |
Untitled Document
 India eyeing a sensational win at Perth
18th Jan 2008 18:01 IST
Agencies
It was from this stage onwards when India led it's recovery and it was all due to the massive presence of Laxman at one end.
Australia introduced Andrew Symonds and Clarke from the two ends in a bid to give respite to its faster men and it allowed the Indian pair of Laxman and Dhoni to settle down.
Both batted patiently and nearly saw out the afternoon session before Symonds gained a twin break in his ninth over.
Dhoni went for a sweep and top edged it for wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist to run on the onside and take a brilliant diving catch and, four balls later, Anil Kumble had edged a catch to slips. Dhoni in all lasted for 100 minutes and 87 balls and hit two fours and two sixes, one each off Symonds and Clarke, during his responsible innings.
Australia now sensed to quickly wrap up the Indian innings but it was frustrated no ends up by the combine of Laxman and RP Singh for the ninth wicket.
With two full days remaining in the Test, a result is definitely on the card as the bouncy WACA track was expected to deteriorate and provide more assistance to the bowlers.
The Indians will fancy their chances of stopping the Australian juggernaut as only three teams in Test history have scored 400 or more runs in the fourth innings for victory. An Indian victory will largely hinge on how well the bowlers exploit the conditions in the remaining two days.
The West Indies hold the Test record of 418/7 when they beat Australia at St John's in 2003. India had rattled up 406/4 to defeat the West Indies in Port-of-Spain in 1976 while Australia scored 404/3 to prevail over England at Headingly in 1948.
The highest successful run chase at the WACA ground is 342/8 by Australia against India during the 1977-78 series but with two wickets down, the hosts may find the going tough to surpass captain Steve Waugh's record of 16 straight wins.
With the in-form Matthew Hayden sitting out of the match because of an injury, it will need a Herculean effort from the Aussies to prevent what could be their first Test defeat at home since 2003. The Australians have not lost a Test at Perth since 1997 when they lost to the West Indies by ten wickets. |
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
| News |
|
|
| Face To Face |
|
|
| Columns |
|
|
| Off The Field |
|
|
| Players |
|
|
| |
|
|
