1st Test: Henriques delays inevitable victory for India

Ashwin dismantles Australia on day four in Chennai.

Australia debutant Moises Henriques played a defiant knock of 75 to deny India an inevitable victory yesterday in the first Test, taking the match into its fifth day, according to The Times of India.

With only a wicket left standing, Henriques added 57 for the last wicket with Nathan Lyon to take the match to its final day. The duo caused some frustration for the hosts as they went through 18.1 overs to equalise the score of 572 and then further lead with 40 runs.

Earlier, Ravichandran Ashwin had knocked down Australia’s batting order with a five-wicket haul which moved his match figures to 12 for 193.

The tourists were down to 175 for nine with Ashwin’s five for 90, but the last two batsmen provided stern resistance to frustrate the home side.

For the hosts, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s unbeaten 224 enabled the them get a strong lead of 192 runs.

Meanwhile, the likes of Ed Cowan (32), Michael Clarke (31) and David Warner (23) failed to resist the Indian spin attack on a pitch that was deteriorating with each over that passed by.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26^th, 2013.