Australia vs http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 dismantle Indian top four
Australia remained in the hunt for a series clean sweep after their bowlers picked up the top four Indian batsmen in the second innings of the 4th Test, played at the Adelaide Oval, January 27, 2012.
The hosts batted a couple of overs after the lunch interval to set up a realistically unachievable target of 500, declaring on 167 for 5 with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RT-Ponting-c2377 remaining unbeaten on 60.
The pitch seemed good for batting but the task itself was daunting for the Men In Blue, considering their abysmal showing throughout the tour. The early indication was mixed with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/G-Gambhir-c1447, who fell to an excellent delivery which
pitched and moved away to take the slightest of edges behind the stumps.
The score read 486 to win but to the Aussies, it was interpreted as one down, nine more to go -keeping in mind the highest ever run chase in Test cricket was 418.
However, after that the Indians found respite through a typical aggressive knock from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/V-Sehwag-c2739, who reached to his half-century in a mere 36 deliveries. He showed attacking instinct from the word go and clobbered a total of 12 fours in his brisk stay
of 62.
The stand in skipper for a short while, gave hope to the Indian fans but his dismissal summed up his team’s erratic display Down Under. Given a juicy full toss from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Nathan-Michael-Lyon-c78822, one would have banked on the opener to spank it anywhere in the park but instead
the best he could do was to get a leading edge, which pooped straight into Ponting at cover – (2 down)
The Men In Blue ended the second session on 92 for 2, but resumption was again back to normal with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Harris-c61739 – chasing a wide delivery to get caught at gully for 25.
Many had lost hope regarding http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Chinnadupargea-Sachin-c50607 Tendulkar’s impeding hundredth ton, and the Test arena at least will not witness him reaching the milestone, after he was caught at short leg off Lyon. While showing glimpses of his old self, the tour has been a big disappointment
for the Little Master, who despite another poor outing left the field with a rapturous applause from the crowd.
For the hosts, the scoreboard simply read – 4 down, 6 to go.
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