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Series decider tantalizingly poised, Aus 204-4 at tea
Sydney, Jan 06: The series deciding fourth and final cricket Test was tantalizingly poised after India grabbed two more wickets while Australia maintained a brisk run rate to reach 204 for four at tea on the fifth and final day at the Sydney Cricket Ground here today.
Sydney, Jan 06: The series deciding fourth and final cricket Test was tantalizingly poised after India grabbed two more wickets while Australia maintained a brisk run rate to reach 204 for four at tea on the fifth and final day at the Sydney Cricket Ground here today.
Damien Martyn (40) and Ricky Ponting (47) were the two
batsmen out in the afternoon session as Australia fought tooth
and nail to deny Indians their first series win in Australia.
At crease were outgoing captain Steve Waugh on 19 in his farewell innings with Simon Katich giving him company on three.
Australia need 239 more runs from a minimum of 31 overs to win the match and wrest the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Martyn was out when he tried to sweep Kumble and top edged a catch to substitute Yuvraj Singh at short fine leg.
Ponting departed when left-arm seamer Irfan Pathan picked up a return catch from the blade of Australia's highest run scorer of the series.
India could have had Ricky Ponting much earlier but the Australian vice-captain was reprieved in the very first over after lunch by wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel who missed an easy stumping chance off Murali Kartik.
Kumble and Kartik bowled incisively and together for 35 overs before the arrival of Steve Waugh at the crease made Indians fall back on the left-arm pace of Pathan.
Waugh was greeted with huge cheers from the big crowd and the great man was off the mark with an on-driven four off Kartik.
Kumble then fed Steve Waugh on the cut and the Australian great was happy enough to respond to the challenge with two punches through the point region.
Earlier, India dismissed both the Australian opening batsmen in the first session to clip the wings of the hosts who were off to a flying start.
Matthew Hayden (30) and Justin Langer (47) were in ominous form as they pounded the seamers and spinners alike.
Hayden, however, fell when his extravagant cover drive was beaten by a googly from Anil Kumble and was caught by Dravid in the slips.
Langer, who survived two close shouts for LBW off Ajit Agarkar, too was a victim of an ambitious shot. The left hander was beaten in the air by left-arm spinner Murali Kartik and skied a lofted shot straight to Virender Sehwag at mid-off.
The four-Test series is tied 1-1 and a victory in Sydney would give India its first away series win in 17 years.
They last beat England 2-0 on the 1986 tour under the captaincy of Kapil Dev.
Bureau Report
At crease were outgoing captain Steve Waugh on 19 in his farewell innings with Simon Katich giving him company on three.
Australia need 239 more runs from a minimum of 31 overs to win the match and wrest the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Martyn was out when he tried to sweep Kumble and top edged a catch to substitute Yuvraj Singh at short fine leg.
Ponting departed when left-arm seamer Irfan Pathan picked up a return catch from the blade of Australia's highest run scorer of the series.
India could have had Ricky Ponting much earlier but the Australian vice-captain was reprieved in the very first over after lunch by wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel who missed an easy stumping chance off Murali Kartik.
Kumble and Kartik bowled incisively and together for 35 overs before the arrival of Steve Waugh at the crease made Indians fall back on the left-arm pace of Pathan.
Waugh was greeted with huge cheers from the big crowd and the great man was off the mark with an on-driven four off Kartik.
Kumble then fed Steve Waugh on the cut and the Australian great was happy enough to respond to the challenge with two punches through the point region.
Earlier, India dismissed both the Australian opening batsmen in the first session to clip the wings of the hosts who were off to a flying start.
Matthew Hayden (30) and Justin Langer (47) were in ominous form as they pounded the seamers and spinners alike.
Hayden, however, fell when his extravagant cover drive was beaten by a googly from Anil Kumble and was caught by Dravid in the slips.
Langer, who survived two close shouts for LBW off Ajit Agarkar, too was a victim of an ambitious shot. The left hander was beaten in the air by left-arm spinner Murali Kartik and skied a lofted shot straight to Virender Sehwag at mid-off.
The four-Test series is tied 1-1 and a victory in Sydney would give India its first away series win in 17 years.
They last beat England 2-0 on the 1986 tour under the captaincy of Kapil Dev.
Bureau Report