http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 sneak ahead on an absorbing day in Mohali Test match
Australian openers have solidified their team’s position with an aggressive start on day four of the first Test against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 being played at Mohali, but Ishant Sharma’s three quick wickets before lunch checked early Australian successes.
The visitors strengthened their position courtesy a powerful opening partnership between Shane Watson and Simon Katich as the tourists extended their lead past the 100 mark.
However, from a position of great strength the visitors slid with three quick wickets falling to lanky pace man, Ishant Sharma, who made a brilliant comeback after a listless spell on the opening day, which was cut short due to his injury.
He first got rid of Shane Watson, the first innings centurion, who was in an aggressive mode from the outset struck and stroked 51-ball half century.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 struck seven boundaries and one six in his belligerent display of stroke making that left the Indian bowlers searching for answers.
Luckily for the hosts he dragged a short ball onto his stumps when he looked set for another big one.
He departed with the score on 87, and soon it read 96 for 3. The next one to go was Ricky Ponting, who was dismissed for 4 runs, his attempted pull short landed in the hands of Suresh Raina at square-leg.
The situation became more interesting for the hosts when Michael http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028.
The tourists took lunch at 100 for 3 with a lead of 123 runs and five sessions left in the match. The game is evenly poised and the hosts can stake a real claim if they run through the rest of the Australian batting line up within the next 100 runs.
The last part of the first session has given the Indians a real sniff and if the likes of Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan and Ojha succeed in making some inroads, the Australians might face the prospect of a defeat in the first Test match.
On day three the hosts were rolled over for 405 in their first innings handing a crucial 28 runs lead to the tourists.
The match is evenly poised yet the Australians have edged slightly ahead with their lead, the wicket is expected to break up more on day four and five, which will make batting difficult, on the last day.
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