Australian batsmen frustrated Indian bowlers with determined batting before being bowled out for 380 in their first innings on the second day of the first cricket Test against the hosts, here today.
Resuming at 316 for 7, the visitors resisted home attack for 38 overs and added 64 runs although a few decision went in their favour which further added to India’s frustration.
Since the last-wicket pair of James Pattinson and Nathan Lyon was at the crease at the official lunch time, the morning session was extended and at the fall of the latter, the break was taken.
Indian off-spinner R Ashwin registered his career-best figures (7/103) while Ravindra Jadeja (2/71) took two wickets.
Michael Clarke and Peter Siddle kept the Indian bowlers at bay for about 90 minutes before the Australian Captain went for an extravagant shot off Jadeja, miscued it and gave the hosts a chance to clean up the tail.
Clarke stepped out to loft Jadeja over his head for a straight six but just managed an edge that flew to the hands of Bhuvaneshwar Kumar at long-off.
Clarke’s splendid 130-run Captain’s knock came off 246 balls with 13 boundaries including one shot over the fence.
It also ended 54-run fighting stand between him Siddle (19).
Soon, Harbhajan Singh’s long wait to get a wicket ended when he had Siddle caught at first slip. Playing his 100th Test and going wicket-less on the opening day, it took the off-spinner the last ball of his 24th over to get his first.
Relief was palpable on the face of the ‘turbanator’ when a bespectacled Virender Sehwag finally held on to a catch.
However, Siddle did a fantastic job for his side, facing 94 balls during his stay, supporting his skipper well.
Harbhajan was extremely unlucky to not get next-man-in Pattinson out leg before in his next over as umpire Kumar Dharamsena turned down the confident appeal.
It was a faster delivery, hitting the back pad of Pattinson in front of the stumps but Dharamsena was unmoved, leading to an argument between a livid Harbhajan and the umpire.
There was only frustration for Indian bowlers after that as the last-wicket pair of Pattinson and Lyon batted for another 12 overs.
Ashwin had Lyon plumb in front of the wicket but yet again Dharamsena thought otherwise. However, four balls later, Lyon swept, found and edge and Virat Kohli took an athletic catch at backward short leg to end the Australian innings.
Earlier, neither the spinners nor medium-fast bowlers could trouble the batsmen much until Clarke lost focus and tried to push the accelerator button on.
The chances were far and few as Clarke and Siddle batted with determination. The nearest Clarke came close to getting out was when while coming forward his uppish defensive shot went towards silly point Cheteshwar Pujara, who could not held on to the half-chance.
Then Siddle edged one behind off Harbhajan but that was a tough chance for wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.