India heads towards a Day 3 defeat in Perth Test!

Tags: Australia v India 3rd Test at Perth - Jan 13-17, 2012, Umesh Yadav, Mitchell Aaron Starc, David Andrew Warner, Zaheer Khan, Edward James McKenzie Cowan, India tour of Australia 2011-12

Published on: Jan 14, 2012

Scorecard | Commentary | Graphs

Match Report of Australia Vs India, Day 2, 3rd Vodafone Test at WACA, Perth

Close of Play Report : India most probably are heading towards a third day defeat tomorrow at the WACA after being reduced to 88 for 4 in 32 overs. The visitors need 120 more runs to make Australia bat again in this Test Match. Mitchell Starc was the star of the final session producing magic with the ball to take the prized wicket of Sachin Tendulkar. By the close of play, India has got through without any further damage courtesy of a solid partnership between Rahul Dravid (32* from 63 balls with 6 fours) and Virat Kohli (21* from 39 balls with 3 fours).

It took 10.2 overs for the Aussies to find their first breakthrough which came through a snorter of a rising delivery from left-armer Mitchell Starc to Gautam Gambhir. The left handed Gambhir (14) had to fend that off infront of his face because of the angle and the ball flew off the handle to a diving Hussey at gully. In the very next over, Peter Siddle with some steep bounce and away movement got Virender Sehwag (10) edging a forcing punch to the keeper.

In the 17th over, India was given the death blow by a magical pitched up late inswinger from Mitchell Starc which hit Sachin Tendulkar low on the pad infront of middle and leg. Umpire Aleem Dar gave a good lbw decision with the ball going onto hit the legstump. Tendulkar (8) for the second time in this match got out lbw which is a rare dismissal on a bouncy pitch. In the 20th over, VVS Laxman (0) surrendered his wicket by going back instead of coming forward to edge a Ben Hilfenhaus outswinger to Marsh at third slip who took a smart low catch.

The next pair of Dravid and Kohli with some luck saw through the session and will have to dig deep tomorrow if India has to salvage any sort of pride in this match and series.

Umesh Yadav bowled superbly to take a maiden five-wicket haulTea Break Report : A superb maiden five-wicket haul from Umesh Yadav and a twin strike from Zaheer Khan has helped India to bowl out Australia for 369 in 76.2 overs. As many as 7 wickets went down in the afternoon session with all the bowlers including part-timer Virender Sehwag chipping in.

India got the wicket of David Warner quickly after Lunch when he miscued a slog pull off Ishant Sharma towards deep mid on where Umesh Yadav ran backwards to take an excellent catch. Warner finished his knock with 180 from 159 balls with 20 fours and 5 sixes which powered the Aussies to 290 on the board in just the 56th over. Zaheer Khan complemented Yadav by coming up with a double blow removing Michael Clarke for 18 (edging a late away swinger to the keeper) and Brad Haddin for a duck (fishing with uncertainty outside off). Zaheer got these two wickets by bowling from round the sticks and getting the ball to swing away from that angle.

A few overs later, debutant R Vinay Kumar who should have got Michael Hussey (14) lbw had him caught at gully playing a flashy square cut in the 68th over. Umesh Yadav returned back to the bowling crease to remove a well set Peter Siddle (30) with one that angled in around middle but straightened to hit the off stump at pace. In the 74th over, Umesh Yadav bounced out Ryan Harris by hurrying him through in a pull shot which was miscued to squareleg.

Virender Sehwag wrapped up the Australian innings during the extended Tea Break when last man Ben Hilfenhaus jumped down the track for a big hit but only to mishit it into the hands of long on. No.11 Mitchell Starc remained unbeaten on 15. Australia settled with a handsome lead of 208 runs.

Umesh Yadav who had an ordinary day yesterday bounced back to end up with figures of 5 for 93 in 17 overs.

Lunch Break Report : Umesh Yadav found some rhythm going in his bowling as he worked up quite a lot of steam by bowling fast and swinging the ball both ways to take three quick wickets for his team by lunch. Australia who were racing along through David Warner’s continued onslaught have slowed down to reach 256 for 3 in 49 overs at lunch on Day 2. David Warner is still there batting on 156 from just 136 balls with 17 fours and 4 sixes. India could have had a better session if Virat Kohli had not put down a sitter offered by Warner early on.

The first wicket for the Aussies fell in the 39th over when Umesh Yadav bowling from round the sticks got Ed Cowan inside edging a 143 kmph inswinger off the pad onto the stumps. Cowan scored 74 from 120 balls with 10 fours in an opening stand of 214 before he was late in bringing his bat down in an attempted drive on the rise. Next man in Shaun Marsh (11) failed yet again in this series; he got brilliantly caught by a diving Laxman to his left at second slip when fending off a short of length delivery from Umesh Yadav. That delivery from Umesh Yadav clocked at 146 kmph and was seaming away with a bit of extra bounce around off.

In the 45th over, Australia lost its third wicket as Ricky Ponting coming in after a century at Sydney got cleaned up for pace and late inswing by a full length delivery from Umesh Yadav at 145 kmph. Ponting fell across trying to play an on drive and was late in bringing his bat down and the ball zipped through off his pads onto the stumps.

By Lunch, David Warner has got Skipper Michael Clarke batting with him on 3. Australia lead by 95 runs with still 7 wickets in hand.

Drinks Break Update : For the second day in a row, the Australians are pounding a sorry Team India at the WACA. David Warner is continuing from where he has left yesterday evening. Anything pitched up is getting smashed in the air by the little left hander. Warner is lucky to be still there after Virat Kohli at first slip had put down a sitter at first slip off Zaheer Khan’s bowling.

At drinks in the first session, Australia are 209 for no loss in 38 overs with David Warner on 130* (from 111 balls with 16 fours and 4 sixes) along with Ed Cowan who is on 74* from 117 balls. The lead so far is 48 runs.

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