Test cricket doesn't get any better than what one witnessed on day four in the second Test between India and Australia, in Chennai.
Australia, with their backs to the wall, defied the odds and survived almost the entire day, thanks to a brilliant 104 from Damien Martyn, to set India a victory target of 229.
Anil Kumble, with figures of 47-7-133-6, and Harbhajan Singh, 46.5-12-108-3, bowled marathon spells to give India a chance of leveling the series before it moves to Nagpur for the third Test.
In reply, openers Virender Sehwag, 12, and Yuvraj Singh, 7, helped India reach 19 for no loss at close of play.
This match is one roller-coaster ride, and with every wicket the equations keep changing. It is still too close to call who the eventual victor will be.
Morning session:
The morning session at Chepauk and wickets just don't seem to go together. On the first morning of the second Test, Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden tore the Indian attack to pieces and put on 111 runs; on day 2, Sehwag and Irfan Pathan held fast against the Aussies, and on the morning of day 3 Mohammad Kaif and Parthiv Patel gave India a slender advantage.
Day 4 followed the norm. The Aussies fought back through Martyn, 67 not out, and Jason Gillespie, 15 not out, to reach 230 for 4 at lunch. The Indians went into the day knowing that they had to dismiss the Aussies quickly. Chasing in the fourth innings in India is no easy task and the highest target India have successfully chased in the fourth innings is 155 for 8 against Australia at this very same venue, during the series in 2001.That match was a close affair and this one too seems heading the same way.
Throughout the session the two batsmen adopted the practice of taking quick singles and waiting for the bad ball before showing any sign of aggression.
The wicket gave little help to the bowlers, or so it seemed. And even though India were still in command it looked as if Australia were starting to find their feet once again.
Kumble, who is celebrating his 34th birthday today, had a first spell of 6-3-8-0. It showed that runs did not come at a very quick rate; but the main worry was the Indians' inability to claim a wicket. During the session, the umpires also opted for two drinks breaks instead of the customary one.
Australia's 200 came up in the 73rd over just after Martyn scored his 18th half-century off 111 balls, which was inclusive of five boundaries.
Towards the end of the session Martyn seemed to have got over his initial hiccups and started to stroke the ball beautifully; a few well-struck boundaries off the back-foot showed that he was high on confidence.
Gillespie stuck to his guns, defending resolutely and venturing out of the crease only for a technically perfect forward defensive shot. For once, the Indians looked lost at home.
With Australia on 227 for four, the Indians had the opportunity to take the new ball. This innings had already gone on too long and Australia still had Darren Lehmann and Michael Clarke in the dressing room.
During the session, Australia scored 81 runs from 31 overs. They are now ahead by 89 runs.
They say a match can turn on its head in a matter of minutes in India. That is exactly what the hosts will be hoping for in the post-lunch session.
Post-lunch session:
India took the new ball seven overs into the afternoon session, in the 88th over. Ganguly was hoping that Zaheer would get him a breakthrough. Yes, Zaheer, because it seemed as if Irfan Pathan was suffering from a mystery injury that prevented him from having a long bowl.
The 19-year-old remained on the field but bowled only one over with the new ball before Ganguly introduced himself into the attack.
But the move had no effect against an increasingly assured Martyn and Gillespie.
Things were just not going India's way and from a position of strength India inexplicably let the match slip from its grasp.
Martyn reached his eighth Test century with a superb six over long-on. His match-saving innings came off 204 balls and included 11 fours and a six.
When the Aussie duo reached 132 they broke Ian Redpath and A P Sheahen's record for the highest fifth-wicket partnership against India in India. Redpath and Sheahen had put on 131 in the first Test at Kanpur in 1969.
But, soon after, with the Australians ahead by a healthy 143, Martyn pushed forward to a delivery from Harbhajan. The ball turned, took the edge and carried to Dravid at first slip. (284 for 5)
Harbhajan raised his arms in triumph and relief. Finally, after struggling for most of the first two sessions, India had a wicket. Martyn scored 104 off 210 balls in 288 minutes and, in the process, almost batted India out of the game.
Then, as it so often happens in cricket, another wicket fell. This time it was Gillespie's. The right-hander was a thorn in India's flesh all morning but he went in the same manner as Martyn, only the catch to dismiss him was even batter.
Dravid dived full length to his right to take a one-handed catch and send Gillespie back after he had scored 26 off 115 deliveries. (285 for 6)
That left Clarke and Lehmann at the wicket. The duo is more than capable of taking the game away from India.
The game is interestingly poised and for India to retain their advantage they need to take the remaining wickets as quickly as possible.
At tea, Australia were 290 for six with Clarke on 4 and Lehmann on 2.
Post tea session
Lehmann and Clarke attacked after tea. The first 31 runs of the partnership came off 44 balls, but it later slowed down to 58 off 98 balls.
The Aussies played intelligently, continuing with their policy of taking quick singles. Coupled with the odd boundary it made very good reading for the visitors. But just when it looked as if they would make the match safe, a wicket fell.
With the Australia's leading by 206, Kumble bowled a short ball that bounced and turned; Lehmann, without moving his feet too much, tried to slap it away but got an inside edge onto the pad; the ball popped up for Patel to take an easy catch. Lehmann scored 31 off 51 balls and put on 62 for the seventh wicket with Clarke. (347 for 7)
Kumble struck again in the same over. Shane Warne, the new batsman, played for the straighter one but the ball turned a little, took the edge and flew straight to the alert Laxman at silly point. Warne went for a duck. (347 for 8)
One thing for sure, no team deserves to lose. There have been some remarkable performances by both sides already -- Kumble's ten wickets in a match, Warne breaking the world record and claiming his first five-wicket haul against India, Sehwag's brilliant 155 and Martyn's match-saving 104 -- and the Indians yet to bat in their second innings.
The pitch was still playing true and if one was prepared to grind it out initially he would reap the awards later.
Kasprowicz, however, did not last too long and was beaten by Kumble's pace and guile. He scored only 5 off 19 balls before being trapped leg before wicket. The end was now in sight. (364 for 9)
With that wicket, Kumble got the seventh best bowling figures in a match for India and also moved ahead of Wasim Akram in the all-time wicket-takers' list by claiming his 415th wicket.
Five runs later, it was all over for Australia. Glenn McGrath played all round a quicker delivery from Harbhajan and was clean bowled for 2. The Aussies were all out for 369. India were set a victory target of 229.
Clarke was left stranded on 39. One of the biggest contributors to the Australian total was 46 extras, inclusive of nine byes.
India innings
Sehwag and Yuvraj walked out to face the last three overs of what had been a memorable day of Test cricket. The Aussies defied the odds and survived most of the day. Did the Indian openers have it in them to survive the last 18 balls?
Well, they certainly did. 19 runs, 16 in boundaries, came off the last three overs. 18 runs came off McGrath's two overs.
India ended the day on 19 for no loss, with Yuvraj on 7 and Sehwag on 12 (3 boundaries). That left them with 90 overs to get the required 210 runs and level the series at 1-1.
Batting on the fifth day will not be easy. Survival will be difficult; scoring runs even more. India has the talent to eke out a victory. Should Sehwag and Yuvraj stay at the wicket it just could come a lot earlier than expected.
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