Aggressive Aussies on defence

Aggressive Aussies on defence
Dharmendra Jore

Nagpur, February 19: Australians may still claim that they could tackle the Indian spinners despite awarding most of their 19 wickets to the India ‘A’ spinners who spun a compact web around the tourists forcing them to opt for a draw in the three-day tour opener which ended here at the VCA Stadium on Monday.

While it was left-arm spinner Rahul Sanghvi who troubled the Aussies in their first innings, India hopefuls leg-spinner Balaji Rao and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh (both three wickets each) shared the honours in the second essay.

The drawn match also witnessed the mighty Australians go on the defensive, their tall claims of playing aggressive cricket notwithstanding. In fact, India A had a certain chance of continuing their total domination on the third day also, but there was a delay in application of spinners. However, the spinners did their bit brilliantly in the later stages of the game and enjoyed the honour of claiming eight wickets of the touring team which proudly wears the world champions tag.

India A could have claimed Australia’s last wicket as well, but skipper Steve Waugh preferred to call the last pair back to the dressing room when three more mandatory overs were to be bowled.

The tourists, however, had a saving grace in a century scored by one-down bat Justin Langer (115). The ton, too, was built up on India A lapses. Langer, batting in thirties, was dropped twice off Sanghvi in the only over the spinner bowled before the lunch break. First Badani faltered at silly point, and two balls later Sanghvi himself wasted a caught and bowled chance.

Opener Mathew Hayden (37) was caught at silly point by Badani off Harbhajan Singh. That followed a small partnership between Langer and Steve Waugh. Badani came good again at silly point when Waugh made a mistake off Balaji Rao.

One more wicket and the Australians could have been in big trouble. But Ricky Ponting, who had a half-century in the first innings, played a pivotal role in his fourth wicket stand of 159 runs with Langer. The pair was largely successful in putting the spinners under pressure. Langer hit 17 fours and two huge sixes in his 237-minute stay, before Harbhajan pipped him, caught in the slips by Laxman.

Laxman, who put himself in attack, trapped Ponting leg before. Thereafter, Damien Martin, the 8th wicket to fall, contributed a chanceless half century to take Aussies beyond 350 mark. His 53 came off 81 balls. His was the only wicket that went Badani’s way. Jason Gillespie (5) and Stephen Fleming (2) added to Balaji Rao’s haul. Michael Kasprowicz remained not out on 15 as the tourists totalled 365 for 9 off 95.1 overs.

Scoreboard
AUSTRALIA (1st innings): 291
INDIA ‘A’ (1st innings): 368
AUSTRALIA (2nd innings): M Slater c Balaji Rao b Harbhajan 11, M Hayden c Badani b Harbhajan 37, J Langer c Laxman b Harbhajan 115, S Waugh c Das b Balaji Rao 17, R Ponting lbw b Laxman 68, A Gilchrist run out 21, D Martyn b Badani 53, J Gillespie c Badani b Balaji Rao 5, M Kasprowicz not out 15, D Fleming c Laxman b Balaji Rao 2. Extras (b-2, lb-14, nb-5) 21 Total (for 9 wkts, 95.1 overs) 365
Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-68, 3-111, 4-260, 5-287, 6-300,7-324, 8-355, 9-365.
Bowling: D Mohanty 16-5-51-0, A Nehra 15-4-52-0, Harbhajan Singh 20-3-81-3, R Sanghvi 5-1-16-0, Balaji Rao 18.1-1-100-3, VVS Laxman 9-2-22-1, D Mongia 8-2-21-0, H Badani 4-2-6-1.