Watson hits ton before Zaheer strikes

India restrict visitors to 224 for five on day one as Australian opener rescues his side after a poor start.

MOHALI: Shane Watson made the most of two dropped catches to score a century as Australia posted 224 for five in their first innings at stumps on the opening day of the first Test against India.

The Australian opener, let off on nought and 37, made an unbeaten 101 for his second Test hundred to help his side recover from an early blow with a 141-run stand for the second wicket with captain Ricky Ponting (71).

Watson, who cracked a century in each innings of a practice game before the Test, completed his hundred in the final session when he turned off-spinner Harbhajan Singh to deep square-leg for two runs.

India pull back visitors

Tim Paine was the other not-out batsman on one. India did not allow Australia to seize the initiative despite Watson’s hundred as left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan grabbed three big wickets, including two in the final session. The fast bowler trapped Michael Hussey leg-before and then bowled Marcus North for a duck. Hussey faced 76 balls for his 17 runs. Australia, who scored 101 runs in the morning after electing to bat on a pitch lacking pace and bounce, could manage only 45 in the last session. Even Watson could add only 26 to his tea score of 75.

Middle-order slump

Australia were comfortably placed at 154 for one before slipping to 222 for five, losing well-set Ponting, vice-captain Michael Clarke (14), Hussey and North. Ponting, averaging just 20.85 in 12 Tests in India before this match, looked set to play a big knock before he was run out by Suresh Raina’s direct-hit at the striker’s end from mid-wicket.

Words were exchanged between Zaheer and Ponting after the Australian skipper’s dismissal.

India were left a bowler short in the afternoon when paceman Ishant Sharma departed the field during his eighth over with a leg injury.

Zaheer, returning to the Test squad after missing the recent Test series in Sri Lanka due to injury, did not have to wait long for his first success, trapping Simon Katich (six) leg-before in his third over.

Opener's chancy innings

Watson was lucky to survive on 37 when wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni failed to hold on to an edge off Ojha.

He played some handsome shots, straight-driving Sharma and then pulling Zaheer for two fours.

He then struck two successive fours off Sharma before the paceman left the field. Harbhajan, a doubtful starter on Thursday due to a leg injury, was declared fit in the morning.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 2^nd, 2010.