The hosts, who remained on the back foot for most part of the day, salvaged the situation in the final session with Zaheer producing an unplayable four-over spell (4-2-3-2) of reverse swing as the visitors were forced to finish the day’s proceedings at 224 for five after electing to bat first. While the honours for the day may appear to have been shared equally, India had more reasons to smile than their rivals, who were cruising at 154 for one at one stage.
Only on Thursday, Mahendra Singh Dhoni had spoken of the need to force the batsmen into mistakes in case they encountered a placid track. The pitch wasn’t exactly a sleeping beauty, but neither did it force batsmen to fret over its behaviour.
It didn’t have much bounce -- Zaheer’s short-pitched deliveries hardly rose above the chest -- and the slow turn wasn’t an encouraging sight for the spinners. In the event, India needed to grab the chances that came their way to wrest the initiative, but instead they were left to rue what could have been.
The Australian innings revolved around opener Shane Watson, unbeaten on 101 (279b, 8x4), and skipper Ricky Ponting, impressive all along his flashy, flamboyant 71 (124b, 10x4). While Watson’s was more a workmanlike innings, Ponting was delightful during his stay right from the time he pulled Zaheer off the second ball he faced. He was looking primed for a big knock when he ran himself out off a direct hit from Suresh Raina, bringing an end to a 141-run association for the second wicket.
Zaheer further rubbed salt into his wounds, uttering a few words in a send-off which obviously didn’t go well with the batsman, who turned back and pointed his bat towards the left-arm seamer. Umpire Billy Bowden, however, stepped in to ensure things didn’t precipitate further.
Watson, who brought up his highest score against India, was grassed twice and the right-hander ensured the hosts paid for the lapses. Watson was yet to open his account when Virender Sehwag failed to latch on to a fairly simple offering at gully off the second ball of the series, bowled by Zaheer. Later, a disciplined Pragyan Ojha induced a nick from Watson, on 37 then, but Dhoni could only poke his gloves at it.
Just a while earlier, an erratic Ishant Sharma had elicited a feather from Ponting, only to realise soon that it was an illegal delivery. The gangling paceman, who struggled with his run-up and sent down eight no-balls, eventually walked off the field in the 37th over of the innings complaining of a niggle in the leg. India had received a boost when off-spinner Harbhajan Singh passed the fitness test in the morning, but Ishant’s exit further thinned their firepower. Harbhajan, who accounted for Michael Clarke with an off-break, remained largely unimpressive.
Comfortably placed at 179 for three coming into the last session, Australia appeared to be strengthening their hold when Zaheer came back to upset their apple cart. The Mumbai paceman, who had trapped opener Simon Katich with an incoming ball, accounted for two more left-handers – Michael Hussey and Marcus North -- with similar inswinging deliveries, this time with the old ball.
Zaheer could have well added one more to his tally, but Dhoni messed up a straight-forward faint nick from Tim Paine. The spell was reminiscent of the show he exhibited in the last series against Australia at the same venue. While the performance in 2008 propelled India to victory, Friday’s effort stopped Ponting and Co from running away with the game.
Score Board
AUSTRALIA (I Innings):
Watson (batting) 101
(360m, 279b, 8x4)
Katich lbw Zaheer 6
(21m, 12b, 1x4)
Ponting (run out) 71
(154m, 124b, 10x4)
Clarke c Dravid b Harbhajan 14
(45m, 39b, 2x4)
Hussey lbw Zaheer 17
(105m, 76b)
North b Zaheer 0
(7m, 6b)
Paine (batting) 1
(22m, 14b)
Extras (LB-4, NB-10) 14
Total (for 5 wkts, 90 overs) 224
Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Katich), 2-154 (Ponting), 3-172 (Clarke), 4-218 (Hussey), 5-222 (North),
Bowling: Zaheer 16-4-45-3, Ishant 7.4-1-49-0 (nb-8), Ojha 31-11-39-0 (nb-2), Harbhajan 29-6-69-1, Sehwag 6.2-0-18-0.