India in control
17 October, 2008

Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly hit half-centuries as India regained control on the first day of the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar series against Australia.

Australia had threatened to grab the honours on the opening day in Mohali, left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson picking up four top-order wickets in quick succession and triggering a mini collapse.

But India wrested control thanks to a 142-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Tendulkar - who became the leading run-scorer in Test cricket on the way to his 88 - and Sourav Ganguly, the pair helping India finish the day on 5-311.

Ganguly was batting on 54 and night watchman Ishant Sharma was on two at the close.

India suffered a blow at the start of the day when regular skipper and leg-spinner Anil Kumble was ruled out with a shoulder injury.

Stand-in skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni decided to bat first, with Amit Mishra handed his first Test cap, replacing Kumble.

And India got off to a flying start with openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir scoring freely.

India had scored at over five runs an over in the first hour and Gambhir and Sehwag added 70 runs for the first wicket when, much against the run of play, Sehwag fell victim to Johnson's guile.

The left-arm seamer directed a short delivery into Sehwag's ribs, inducing an edge from the batsman which wicketkeeper Brad Haddin held firmly.

Runs continued to flow as Rahul Dravid joined Gambhir, the two making Australia's pace battery look ordinary during their stay at the crease.

Gambhir drove and cut ferociously, and stepped out to hit successive lofted boundaries off part-time spinner Michael Clarke to bring up his half-century.

Dravid also looked in fine touch and was the dominant partner in a 76-run stand with Gambhir when he attempted to drive Lee through the off-side, but only managed an inside edge which disturbed leg stump.

Seven boundaries studded Dravid's innings, pointing a finger at the placid nature of the pitch.

Tendulkar, who had needed 15 runs to surpass Brian Lara's record as the world's highest run getter in Test cricket, replaced Dravid at the crease and watched as Gambhir departed at the other end.

Gambhir was dismissed by Johnson, a thin outside edge flying to Haddin as India slipped from 1-146 to 3-146.

VVS Laxman was Johnson's third victim, the Hyderabadi recording another first-innings failure.

Laxman (12) was dismissed in similar fashion to Sehwag, glancing a delivery sent down leg stump to Haddin.

Tendulkar was joined by Ganguly as the two took centre stage.


Tendulkar had started cautiously, only one boundary, a sublime cover drive, in his first 15 runs.

He then glanced Peter Siddle through to third man for three runs as he surpassed Lara's record.

The game was briefly halted as the Australian players congratulated Tendulkar and fireworks were set off in the stands.

Once beyond Lara's mark, Tendulkar cut loose. Driving and cutting with precision, he got to his 50th century in just 80 deliveries, hitting five boundaries along the way.

A century was there for the taking when Siddle struck with the second new ball.

The debutant induced an edge as Tendulkar chased a delivery channelled outside off stump, edging to Matthew Hayden at first slip.

His knock of 88 came off 111 deliveries and contained 10 boundaries.

Ganguly went on to reach his half-century, the left-hander's knock overshadowed by Tendulkar's achievements at the other end.

Together with Ishant, Ganguly easily watched off the pacemen as India finished without further damage.