The hosts, needing 216 to win in their second innings, were wobbling at 55 for four at stumps on the penultimate day, with Hilfenhaus finishing with three for 22 off seven sharp overs.
With middle-order batsman VVS Laxman suffering from a stiff back, India’s hopes largely depend on Sachin Tendulkar who was unbeaten on 10. Opener Gautam Gambhir was unlucky to be given out leg-before in Hilfenhaus’s opening over as TV replays suggested he had inside-edged the delivery on to his pads.
Rahul Dravid (13) was caught behind off paceman Doug Bollinger, while Virender Sehwag (17) and Suresh Raina - dismissed for nought - fell to short rising deliveries from Hilfenhaus. Sehwag was caught by Michael Hussey at gully, while Raina was caught by Marcus North in the slips.
Earlier, Indian paceman Ishant Sharma grabbed three big wickets in two sensational overs as Australia were bowled out for 192 in their second innings. He removed Shane Watson (56), Ricky Ponting (four) and Michael Clarke (four) in the opening two overs of his second spell in the morning. There was no hint of a collapse when Australia reached 87 without loss following an attractive half-century from Watson, but Sharma jolted the tourists with three wickets for just eight runs.
Australia’s batting problems began when Watson dragged a Sharma delivery on to his stumps after hitting one six and seven fours in his 59-ball knock. He completed his 10th Test half-century off just 51 balls, flicking Harbhajan for two runs but the spinner hit back with wickets to put his side in a good position on the penultimate day.
India were bowled out for 405 in their first innings in reply to Australia’s 428.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 5th, 2010.
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