Krejza rips through tail
07 November, 2008

Jason Krejza Australia off-spinner Jason Krejza picked up eight wickets on debut as India were bowled out for 441 midway through the afternoon session on day two of the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar series.

Krejza got rid of Mahendra Singh Dhoni (56) just after the India skipper had reached his half-century, the 12th of his career.

Dhoni's departure ended a sixth-wicket partnership worth 119 with Sourav Ganguly, who was also a victim of the spinner in his final Test before retirement.

Krejza picked up Ganguly two deliveries after he had disposed of Dhoni, the left-hander falling for 85.

Ganguly tentatively poked at a delivery from the rookie, but a thick edge flew to Michael Clarke who snaffled a brilliant catch at first slip.

Krejza then picked up two wickets in as many deliveries, bowling Zaheer Khan (1), via an inside edge, and Amit Mishra (0).

Krejza was denied the hat-trick, but soon sent back Ishant Sharma for a duck, caught by Simon Katich at short-leg.

Krejza, overlooked for the first three matches of this series, finished with figures of 8-215 from 43.5 overs.

Earlier, Ganguly and Dhoni had taken India to a commanding 5-404 at lunch.

Runs came in a steady flow right through the session - 93 in all from 26 overs - but remarkably most of them through strong running between the wickets as the duo consolidated.

Dhoni, playing a dominant hand in the partnership earlier on, struck the first boundary of the day in the seventh over when he whipped Brett Lee through square-leg.

Ganguly got his first boundary in the next over, square-driving left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson and then hit Krejza for a six over long-on as he slowly came into his own.


The 36-year-old brought up his 34th half-century by pushing Krejza through mid-off for a couple of runs.

Dhoni had grown in confidence, audaciously reverse-sweeping Krejza to good effect despite a slip being in place as he closed in on his half-century.

The run rate dipped in the last half-hour before lunch as Australia's bowlers, Shane Watson in particular, channelled deliveries in the corridor outside off stump.

Australia lost key opener Matthew Hayden before tea, the burly Queenslander run out attempting a quick single to Murali Vijay at mid-on.

Hayden looked in good nick, hitting three fours in his 16, before a rush of blood resulted in his dismissal with Vijay's throw shattering the stumps.

Simon Katich remained unbeaten on 18 with captain Ricky Ponting on seven not out as Australia reached 43 for one at the interval.