indianexpress.com :: India 158 for 5 at lunch

India 158 for 5 at lunch

Agencies

Posted online: Friday, January 18, 2008 at 0945 hrs IST

Perth, January 18:
India were suffering a familiar collapse as Australia came storming back on the third morning of the third cricket Test at the WACA in Perth on Friday.

Australian pace attack scythed through the Indian top order taking four wickets in the morning session which left India reeling at 158 for 5 at lunch. India now leads by 274 runs with five wickets in hand.

Irfan Pathan (45) is playing with guts with VVS Laxman (18) at the other end.

There was no inkling of the collapse when overnight batsmen Virender Sehwag (43) and Pathan (45) pushed the last evening's score of 52 for 1 to 79 before the breakthrough occurred.

Sehwag tried to flick a Stuart Clark (2-32) delivery in line of his stumps, missed it and the ball swung back to rattle his middle stump.

Sehwag, just two deliveries before he was dismissed, was dropped by Mike Hussey at gully off Brett Lee. He faced 60 balls in 85 minutes and hit seven fours.

India suffered another blow just five deliveries later when Rahul Dravid edged a catch off Bret Lee (2-36) behind the stumps to Adam Gilchrist after just a productive off-side stroke for three runs.

Sachin Tendulkar (13) and Pathan appeared to have stemmed the rot when the little master fell, leg before off a Lee delivery which came in sharply and beat the batsman's defensive forward push.

Australia were not through yet and claimed Sourav Ganguly for duck when he drove Mitchell Johnson only to edge a catch in the first slip to Michael Clark.

Pathan, who came in as night watchman on Thursday, defied the Australian bowlers with some gutsy batting.

The left-hander surpassed expectations by lasting the opening session, driving sweetly on his front foot and flicking the leg stump deliveries with ease.

Pathan stroked six boundaries in his 59-ball stay and was never bothered by the wickets tumbling at the other end.

After Sourav Ganguly fell to Lee, India looked in deep trouble at 5-125. Pathan and Laxman added 33 runs in quick time and increased the lead to 276.

Laxman has hit two boundaries and is looking good.

Brett Lee was the standout bowler of the morning session, bowling eight overs on a trot and picking up two crucial wickets for 22 runs.

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India 158 for 5 at lunch Agencies Posted online: Friday, January 18, 2008 at 0945 hrs IST Perth, January 18: India were suffering a familiar collapse as Australia came storming back on the third morning of the third cricket Test at the WACA in Perth on Friday. Australian pace attack scythed through the Indian top order taking four wickets in the morning session which left India reeling at 158 for 5 at lunch. India now leads by 274 runs with five wickets in hand. Irfan Pathan (45) is playing with guts with VVS Laxman (18) at the other end. There was no inkling of the collapse when overnight batsmen Virender Sehwag (43) and Pathan (45) pushed the last evening's score of 52 for 1 to 79 before the breakthrough occurred. Sehwag tried to flick a Stuart Clark (2-32) delivery in line of his stumps, missed it and the ball swung back to rattle his middle stump. Sehwag, just two deliveries before he was dismissed, was dropped by Mike Hussey at gully off Brett Lee. He faced 60 balls in 85 minutes and hit seven fours. India suffered another blow just five deliveries later when Rahul Dravid edged a catch off Bret Lee (2-36) behind the stumps to Adam Gilchrist after just a productive off-side stroke for three runs. Sachin Tendulkar (13) and Pathan appeared to have stemmed the rot when the little master fell, leg before off a Lee delivery which came in sharply and beat the batsman's defensive forward push. Australia were not through yet and claimed Sourav Ganguly for duck when he drove Mitchell Johnson only to edge a catch in the first slip to Michael Clark. Pathan, who came in as night watchman on Thursday, defied the Australian bowlers with some gutsy batting. The left-hander surpassed expectations by lasting the opening session, driving sweetly on his front foot and flicking the leg stump deliveries with ease. Pathan stroked six boundaries in his 59-ball stay and was never bothered by the wickets tumbling at the other end. After Sourav Ganguly fell to Lee, India looked in deep trouble at 5-125. Pathan and Laxman added 33 runs in quick time and increased the lead to 276. Laxman has hit two boundaries and is looking good. Brett Lee was the standout bowler of the morning session, bowling eight overs on a trot and picking up two crucial wickets for 22 runs.