India was in complete control of the Second Test Match against Australia in Mohali at second day stumps. After frustrating the Australian bowlers and fieldsmen with some cracking batting performances, they tightened the leash with tight bowling. Going forth from the overnight score of 311 runs, India went on to pile a staggering 469 runs. Sourav Ganguly starred in today’s game with his 102, very ably supported by the stand-in skipper MS Dhoni who scored 92. The party didn’t end here. Australians were limited to 102-4 before the play ended and India has every reason to smile today.
Ganguly who was batting at 54 at
last day’s stumps rallied forth today and went on to score his 16th test century. This is Ganguly’s farewell series and many critics cast doubts if Ganguly would be able to post a fitting farewell performance. After a reasonably good performance in the first match topped by this super century, many will want Ganguly to give his decision to retire a second thought. MS Dhoni doesn’t lag behind when it comes to talking about notable performances of today. Dhoni put 8 boundaries and 4 sixes to compile his 92-run knock. He crossed the 1500 run mark in test cricket with his 10th half-century. The two batsmen put 109 runs together for the 7th wicket. Dhoni kept the runathon going on after Ganguly departed and was the last batsman to go.
Australia kick-started their innings in a fashion that has become typical to them in this series. Matthew Hayden was sent back for a duck yet another time by Zaheer Khan. Hayden’s performance in the series should be a concern for the Aussies. His score in the series so far is 0, 13 and 0 and strangely, he’s been bowled out by Zaheer on all three occasions. Rookie Amit Mishra claimed 2 wickets while Ishant Sharma dismissed the jinxed-in-India Ricky Ponting at a measly score of 5 for the fourth time in his young career.
Australia will be under tremendous pressure when they come out to play tomorrow. India have a very tight grip on the game at the end of second day and Australia will have a tough time in coming back. They are trailing by 367 runs and going by their health, a follow-on looks likely.
