India applies screws
30 October, 2008

VVS Laxman Gautam Gambhir and VVS Laxman both hit double centuries as India all but batted Australia out of the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar series.

Gambhir hit 206 - the maiden double century of his career - and Laxman made an unbeaten 200 before India declared its first innings on 7-613.

Australia openers Matthew Hayden and Simon Katich made a determined start to their reply, closing the day on 50 for no loss.

Hayden, who has managed a meagre 42 runs in the first two Tests, was on 16 not out at stumps with Katich on 29, the duo having successfully seen off 15 overs from the India bowlers, including seven overs of probing spin.

Australia had begun the day with optimism and banking on the second new ball to break the partnership between Gambhir and Laxman, which was already worth 139 overnight.

Those hopes quickly faded and turned to frustration as Gambhir and Laxman quickly accelerated out of the blocks.

The duo harvested 97 runs in the first session, Laxman picking boundaries at will in typically wristy fashion.

The middle-order batsman brought up his 13th Test century and sixth against Australia with a cover-drive to the boundary off spinner Cameron White and went past the 150-run mark - for the fourth time against Australia -with a single off Katich.

Gambhir slammed 26 fours and a six, before being bowled by Shane Watson, four and a half sessions after he first came out to bat.

Watson was pressed into service for the first time on Thursday, well after lunch, and the all-rounder immediately struck by getting rid of the left-handed opener.

Gambhir attempted to steer a delivery to third man, but an inside edge cannoned on to his stumps. Gambhir and Laxman's partnership yielded 278 runs in 72.1 overs.

The second hour after lunch was Australia's most successful period of a long day as they snared Sourav Ganguly (five) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (27) in addition to Gambhir.

Ganguly, playing his last match at the Feroz Shah Kotla, attempted to drive Katich on the up through the covers only for Ricky Ponting to scoop up a catch at short cover.

Dhoni presented Katich with a difficult return catch almost immediately after he came to the crease.

Katich stuck out a hand, but failed to grasp it. Dhoni looked in ominous form, hitting Katich for consecutive boundaries and a six in one over while thumping Watson for consecutive blows in another.

Watson, however, was to have the last laugh, inducing a drive from the wicketkeeper-batsman which he edged straight behind to Brad Haddin.

India captain Anil Kumble got his team past the 500-run mark with successive boundaries off Katich and smashed a total of seven fours in all before falling to Mitchell Johnson.

Laxman eventually reached his double century by clubbing Michael Clarke for two over mid-on and Kumble declared immediately after.

Laxman's previous double century - 281 at Kolkata - also came against the world champions.


Johnson finished the innings as Australia's most successful bowler, having taken 3-142 as Watson claimed 2-66. Brett Lee also bowled with pace and venom, particularly with the new ball but could not manage another wicket after taking Virender Sehwag early on Wednesday morning, finishing his innings on 1-119.