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 Bangalore : Shane Watson claimed Harbhajan Singh’s wicket just before the end of day’s play. The Indians stood at 313 runs for the loss of 8 wickets at stumps on Day 3.
Bhajji smashed a stupendous half century of 85 deliveries in the post tea session taken India over the mark of 300 runs. Zaheer Khan gave him the much needed company as he stood unbeaten at 38 runs.
The tea break proved to be a blessing in disguise for the Australians as the lone batsman to offer resistance after Dravid, Sourav Ganguly saw a rare lapse in concentration, leading to a dismissal at 47 runs. He was adjudged LBW to a decision that visibly upset him even as a slight drizzle started over the ground.
Earlier, Michael Clarke spun a vicious one to get rid of MS Dhoni as he was clean bowled at a score of 9 runs. The post-lunch session yielded ripe benefits for the visitors as India was restricted to 210/6 at tea time.
Prior to this, Rahul “the Wall’ Dravid came true to his name as he slammed his 11th fifty against Australia (53rd overall), but the respite was short lived as he was declared out LBW to Shane Watson’s angling delivery. He walked back after scoring 51 runs.
India managed to get 133 runs on the board for the loss of 4 wickets at lunch on Day 3 of the first Test against Australia. The experienced combo of Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid held fort for the home team and milked the bowlers for precious runs.
Prior to this, Australia turned the heat on the batsmen early on in the morning session as Mitchell Johnson struck three quick blows to the Indian top order, claiming the prized scalps of Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman.
The former edged a fuller, outside the off stump delivery into the hands of Hayden at 1st slip after making 45 runs while the latter was caught at 13 runs by Cameron White at short cover due to a mistimed shot. Laxman was the last man to go in the fiery spell as he was caught behind the stumps to a low keeping, fuller delivery.
Just before this, Brett Lee sent tremors down the Indian camp in his first over of the morning on Day three of the first Test as he got opener Gautam Gambhir plumb in front of the wicket. The batsman was adjudged LBW at a score of 21 runs as the scorecard read 70/1.
The bad start to the morning was preceded by a rather positive approach on the previous day by the home team in reply to the Aussie total of 430 runs.
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