India have their eyes set on winning the Second Test against Australia as the visitors finished the fourth day’s play limping at 141-5 chasing 516 for victory. Earlier in the day India declared their innings at 313-3 one hour before the tea break.

Aussie coach Tim Nielsen desperately needs some reality check. He believes Australia can “still win the match” and “the game is not over yet.” Well, the highest successfully chased fourth innings target is 418 achieved by West Indies against Australia in 2002-03. Till a year back, no body imagined totals exceeding 400 in ODI cricket. So yes, the impossible could have happened. Only if Australia kept their cool and took it slow.

Harbhajan Singh nailed openers Matthew Hayden (29) and Simon Katich (20) in his opening over. In his very next over, he had Mike Hussey (1) as his 299th test wicket. Ishant Sharma struck in the very next over and returned Ricky Ponting (2) within minutes of his arrival on the pitch, falling prey to lanky Sharma for the fifth time in five matches. Next to depart was Shane Watson, highest scorer of the first innings who became Sharma’s second victim. Australia was now decomposed to 58-5. Michael Clarke (42*) and Brad Haddin (37*) played party-poopers for India. The victory looked imminent on the fourth day itself but the 83-run stand for the 6th wicket has only delayed it, if not denied it.

Gautam Gambhir (104) struck second test century of his career and his first in India. It’s been a long wait since he made his first century against Bangladesh four years back. Together with birthday boy Virender Sehwag (90), he posted 182 for the opening wicket. The run rate floated around 5 all the time, so MS Dhoni was sent in at number 3 to keep up the momentum instead of the usual Rahul Dravid. Dhoni scored his second half-century in the test match. If India wins the match (which is pretty likely), it will be a quantum leap for his career prospects and reputation as a skipper.

After losing their top five batsmen for ten runs today, Australia should do a good quality check of their resources and build on some last-minute endurance. Or easier, just be ready for 1-0 deficit.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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