By IANS
Melbourne : India were struggling in searing heat at 134 for five in the second innings at tea while chasing a target of 499 runs set by Australia, on the fourth day of the first Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) here Thursday.
Sourav Ganguly was batting on 36 and Mahendra Singh Dhoni on 1 when the umpires called tea. India lost two quick wickets before the lunch session and three before the tea break and a sure defeat is now staring at them at the MCG.
India’s strategy of wearing the Australian attack down on the fourth day, suffered the first set-back when fast bowler Brett Lee struck with his away going delivery as opener Wasim Jaffer (15) swished at it and wicket keeper Adam Gilchrist took an easy catch. With the catch Gilchrist became Australia’s most successful wicketkeeper with 396 catches and left Ian Healy one behind.
Make-shift opener Rahul Dravid (16) in the company of V.V.S Laxman (42) looked set to see the first session through. But Dravid departed in the last over before lunch after the innocuous Andrew Symonds trapped him in front of the wicket. Dravid stonewalled for two and half hours and faced 114 balls for 16 and his exit left India dangling at 56 for two at lunch.
Sachin Tendulkar (15), after a brisk 62 in the first innings, was keen to attack and drove Lee through point for four. But he was out-thought by Lee, who followed a quick bouncer with a good ball outside off stump that was too full to cut, luring Tendulkar into the shot, which he edged to Gilchrist.
India was cruising along well when Ganguly and Laxman were at the crease. Laxman worked well for his 42 but fell to the frustration of Stuart Clark’s tight bowling. Laxman drove on the up straight to Michael Clarke at cover. Laxman was watchful in his 112-ball innings but was quickly onto any bad balls from left-arm spinner Brad Hogg, who dropped short more often than he would like. Laxman pulled a pair of Hogg deliveries through midwicket for boundaries and was also impressive with his straight drives.
Ganguly was also prepared to take risks and more than once cut hard in the air near gully off Clark. He kept on fighting the sweltering heat and also slumped on to the ground after running a two. He needed attention from the team physio and batted on in near 40-degree heat, but his team-mates kept falling around him.
Yuvraj Singh departed for five shortly before tea, missing a straighter ball from Hogg that would have crashed into his stumps. Yuvraj, who was cleared of showing dissent at an umpire’s decision in the first innings, again waited a few moments before trudging off after Mark Benson’s leg-before verdict.
Australia declared at 351 for seven late on the third day and India, who were dismissed for 196 runs in reply to Australia’s first innings of 343, will need to make history to win the match.
The highest successful run-chase at the MCG was England’s 332 against Australia in the 1928-29 Ashes series. Only three aides have ever successfully chased in excess of 400 runs in the fourth innings of a Test.
For all their defiance, the Indians may find it difficult to last out five more sessions to win or draw the match. If they have to pull off a victory they will have to mount a world record score.