Bowlers rule MCG on day 3 - TeluguPeople.com News

MELBOURNE: Bowlers dictated the fortunes of the first test between Australia and India on Wednesday as 19 wickets fell for 274 runs on the third day, leaving the match evenly poised.

Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey defied age and their critics to score half centuries in a 115-run partnership after a top-order collapse as Australia struggled to 179-8 at stumps with a 230-run lead.

India paceman Umesh Yadav (4-49) had taken three quick wickets in the afternoon session to leave Australia reeling at 27-4 before the experienced pair came together to halt the slide.

Australia's batting struggle mirrored that of India in the morning session as recalled Australia paceman Ben Hilfenhaus (5-75) completed his first test five-wicket to help dismiss the tourists for 282. India lost their last eight wickets for 68 runs.

Hussey will resume the fourth day on 79 with James Pattinson on 3.

The 36-year-old Hussey smashed seven boundaries in a defiant, career-saving knock. He and 37-year-old Ponting have been the subject of intense scrutiny in recent weeks with calls for their retirement.

Hussey, out for a duck in the first innings after a dubious umpiring decision, saw his luck change Wednesday when given the benefit of the doubt in an lbw appeal and, then was dropped by Rahul Dravid in the slips while on 69.

Former captain Ponting, who scored 62 in the first innings in a 113-run partnership with debutant opener Ed Cowan, made a classy 60 before sending a thick edge to Virender Sehwag in the gully attempting to drive a Zaheer Khan (2-32) ball.

Brad Haddin was out next over with a rash shot to Khan snapped up by V.V.S. Laxman and Peter Siddle made 4 before becoming Yadav's fourth wicket, caught behind.

Lyon was out lbw to fellow-spin bowler Ashwin (1-44), leaving the prospect of Hussey running out of partners.

Ponting brought up his second half century of the match when he guided an Ishant Sharma ball through point and to the boundary, prompting a standing ovation from the MCG crowd. They rose again in the next over after Hussey drove Ashwin to the leg side for three runs for his 50.

Earlier, opener David Warner, after making a circumspect start, tried a more familiar aggressive stroke to a Yadav ball but only succeeded in edging it onto his stumps.

Yadav then claimed Australia's first innings top-scorer Cowan lbw for 8 when the he padded up to an inswinger headed for off stump.

Shaun Marsh scored just 3 ' after a first-innings duck ' before becoming Yadav's third victim, playing a fuller ball onto the wicket.

Australia was four wickets down after just 12 overs when captain Michael Clarke (1) went, playing forward to defend an Ishant Sharma delivery, only to nick it through to his stumps.

The home side had made a dramatic start to day three when Hilfenhaus removed Rahul Dravid's off-stump with a fullish delivery off just the second ball of the day.

V.V.S. Laxman, traditionally a prolific scorer on Australian wickets, made just 2 before nicking a Siddle (3-63) delivery to wicketkeeper Haddin, who took four catches in the morning session.

Hilfenhaus had Virat Kohli caught behind for 11 before taking the new ball and tempting Mahendra Singh Dhoni (6) into an easy catch for Hussey in the gully to leave India struggling at 245-7.

Night watchman Sharma became Hilfenhaus' fifth wicket of the innings when he was caught behind for 11 after surviving 69 balls.

Zaheer Khan made just 4 before being bowled by James Pattinson (2-55).

Ravichandran Ashwin (31) and Yadav (2) shared a 23-run 10th-wicket partnership until Siddle bowled Ashwin to end the innings.

India's collapse from a powerful position had begun in the final over of Tuesday's play when Tendulkar was bowled for 73 by Siddle.

That prevented him notching his 100th international century, but the master batsman will get another chance in the second innings to make the milestone ton he had been chasing since March.

Scoreboard:

Australia 1st Innings: 333

India 1st Innings

(Overnight: 214-3)

Virender Sehwag b Pattinson 67

Gautam Gambhir c Haddin b Hilfenhaus 3

Rahul Dravid b Hilfenhaus 68

Sachin Tendulkar b Siddle 73

Ishant Sharma c Haddin b Hilfenhaus 11

V.V.S. Laxman c Haddin b Siddle 2

Virat Kohli c Haddin b Hilfenhaus 11

Mahendra Singh Dhoni c Hussey b Hilfenhaus 6

Ravichandran Ashwin c Haddin b Siddle 31

Zaheer Khan b Pattinson 4

Umesh Yadav not out 2

Extras: (1w 3nb) 4

TOTAL: 282

Overs: 94.1.

Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-97, 3-214, 4-214, 5-221, 6-238, 7-245, 8-254, 9-259, 10-282.

Bowling: James Pattinson 23-6-55-2 (1w), Ben Hilfenhaus 26-5-75-5 (1nb), Peter Siddle 21.1-2-63-3 (2nb), Nathan Lyon 17-2-66-0, Mike Hussey 5-0-15-0, David Warner 2-0-8-0.

Australia 2nd Innings:

David Warner b Yadav 5

Ed Cowan lbw b Yadav 8

Shaun Marsh b Yadav 3

Ricky Ponting c Sehwag b Khan 60

Michael Clarke b Sharma 1

Michael Hussey not out 79

Brad Haddin c Laxman b Khan 6

Peter Siddle c Dhoni b Yadav 4

Nathan Lyon lbw Ashwin 0

James Pattinson not out 3

Extras: (4b, 2lb, 1w, 3nb) 10

TOTAL: (for eight wickets) 179

Overs: 60.

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-16, 3-24, 4-27, 5-142, 6-148, 7-163, 8-166.

Still to bat: Ben Hilfenhaus.

Bowling: Zaheer Khan 13-1-32-2 (1nb,1w), Umesh Yadav 15-5-49-4, Ishant Sharma 11-0-41-1 (1nb), Ravichandran Ashwin 19-4-44-1, Virender Sehwag 2-0-7-0.