2nd Test: Pattinson continues dream start as India falter again

Australia end day one on 116 for three after bowling tourists out for just 191.

SYDNEY:

Australia were on top after a remarkable beginning in the second Test against India, recovering from a shaky start to their innings on a day that saw 13 wickets tumble.

India were bundled out for 191 and the hosts lost three early wickets before recovering to 116 without losing any more wickets by stumps. Captain Michael Clarke (47) and Ricky Ponting (44) had restored the Australia innings with an unbroken 79-run stand.

Earlier, fast-bowler James Pattinson ripped the heart out of the tourists’ batting line-up with four for 43 after India won the toss in the 100th Test played at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Captain MS Dhoni top-scored with an unbeaten 57 as the tourists fell apart again after being thrashed in the first Test by 122 runs.

Pattinson delighted

Amid the carnage, Sachin Tendulkar failed in his pursuit of his 100th international century again as he was bowled for 41 by Pattinson, who was delighted after getting the maestro out for the first time in his blooming career.

“Getting Tendulkar out is something I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” he said. “It’s an amazing feeling. It was quite unlucky for him, chopping one on. To bowl the whole team out for 191 is a great effort by the bowlers. Every time we go out we want to try and get them out for as low a score as possible. Their total just shows how well we bowled.”

Pattinson triggered the tourists’ slide when he had Gautam Gambhir out off the third ball of the match for a duck. Rahul Dravid fell to Peter Siddle for five, while Virender Sehwag (30) was dismissed by another splendid Pattinson delivery. Stalwarts Rahul Dravid (five) and VVS Laxman (two) also fell cheaply.

‘Bowlers deserve credit’

India coach Duncan Fletcher conceded that the hosts’ fast-bowlers had completely outplayed his batsmen.

“You have to give Australia bowlers the credit,” he said. “They bowled a really good line and put our batsmen under pressure. It’s crucial that we get back to those lines and lengths that we’ve spoken about and put Australia batsmen under the same pressure.”

Zaheer early effort in vain

Meanwhile, the Australia innings was off to a disastrous start when they quickly lurched into trouble with the loss of three wickets as Zaheer Khan led the fightback.

David Warner was out for eight in the fast-bowler’s first over. Shaun Marsh followed for a first-ball duck on the first delivery of his next over before Ed Cowan fell for 16. Thereafter, Clarke and Ponting found the going easy in the final hour.

Duncan Fletcher

“If we can get them out for about the same score, and that’s not out of the question, then I think we can put them under pressure if we bat well in the second-innings.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2012.