Australia in sight of a hat-trick on day three

David Warner - The Star of 2nd Day
David Warner – The Star of 2nd Day

The strong Australian side was foreseeing third successive victory against the depleted Indian side on the third day as the home squad requires another six wickets with a first innings lead of 120 runs. The bowlers from both sides dominated the proceedings of the second day as 14 wickets fell on the second day.

David Warner stole the honours of the day when he thrashed his career best 180 runs and shared 214 runs opening partnership with Ed Cowan who contributed valuable 74 runs.

India was bowled out cheaply in their first innings for 161 runs as the Kangaroos quickies were unplayable once again. The Aussies smashed 369 runs in their opening innings and India was struggling for survival at 88 runs after losing four paramount wickets. Rahul Dravid was unbeaten at 32 and Virat Kohli was fighting 21 runs at stumps on the second day.

The third Test is being staged at Western Australia Cricket Association Ground, Perth from January 13, 2012.
Earlier Australia started the second day at 149 without losing any wicket in 23 overs, Warner and Cowan were unbeaten on 104 and 23 runs respectively.

The duo initiated the day from where they left on the first day and Cowan achieved his fifty on the fifth ball of the 29th over. Warner was going great guns, smashed cherry out of the boundary at his will and kept the bowling under check. He got a life when dropped at 126 runs in the first slip by Virat Kohli which was a sitter on the bowling of Zaheer Khan.
India got the first success of the day when Cowan was bold by Umesh Yadav on 74 runs not before they had a wonderful partnership of 214 runs by over taking the entire first innings score of India. Shaun Marsh proved failure with the bat once again as Yadav let him down at 11 runs.

That was the start of the domination for the Indian bowlers who posed threat to the Kangaroos for the first time in the series. The second wicket fell at 230 runs as Ricky Ponting could not resist the quick fire of Yadav who uprooted his stumps after the addition of 12 runs in the total.

Warner carried on with his ambush until was caught at long on by Yadav off Ishant Sharma after smashing match winning 180 runs which included five towering sixes and 20 smart fours. The middle and lower order was unable to utilise the solid platform laid down by their openers and the whole team was sent back to the pavilion at 369 runs in 76.2 overs.
Yadav shown his promise by grabbing five wickets, Zaheer held two victims as Vinay Kumar, Sharma and Virender Sehwag claimed one wicket each.

India started their second innings while conceding a mammoth lead of 208 runs and their top order once again surrendered against the destructive bowling of Australia. They lost four of their supreme batsmen for just 51 runs, Gautam Ghambhir left at 14, Sehwag 10, Sachin Tendulkar was captured on eight and VVS Laxman was unable to open his account.

Dravid and Kohli were unbeaten on 32 and 21 runs respectively, they added 37 runs for the fifth wicket and faced the fierce bowling of the Aussies until the close of the second day’s play. India still requires 120 runs to avoid another innings defeat and Australia will be hinting for six more wickets.

Mitchell Starc was the main wicket taker by claiming two wickets as Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle shared one wicket each.

The first hour of the third day will be crucial for India, their batsmen have to fight for their survival and Dravid will be the key factor for them. Australia will strive hard to clinch the remaining six wickets quickly by the burst of fresh pacers. Keeping in view the performance of India in the previous two Tests, the match can reach to its destiny on the third day.


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