India vs Australia 2nd Test 2008: Second Day Report
At the end of the second day, India is now in the driving seat of Mohali test with Australia struggling on 102 for 4, trialing by 367 runs. India’s first innings total reached 469 after losing all the wickets thanks to Sourav Ganguly’s 16th test century and stand in captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s excellent innings of 92 off 124 balls. Indian bowlers are also continuing the momentum provided by the batsmen by keeping the pressure on Indian batsmen.
Indian batsmen Sourav Ganguly and Ishant Sharma, who were batting on 54 and 2, started the day from India’s previous day’s total of 311 for 5. However, night watchman Sharma got out on 9 leaving India 326 for 6 and Dhoni came in the wicket to join Ganguly. Dhoni started playing shots from the beginning and continued it before getting out on 92 as the last batsman. Before that Ganguly completed his 16th test century with a boundary through the midwicket off Cameron White. Though Ganguly got out soon after reaching his hundred, his second against Australia, he guided India to a big total in the first innings. Ganguly and Dhoni shared 109 runs for the 7th wicket stand. After Ganguly’s dismissal, Dhoni could add some crucial runs on the scoreboard with the tale enders, but he failed to reach his hundred being the victim of LBW trap off Peter Siddle with 8 runs short of another test century.
India’s first innings total of 469 was proven enough to energize the Indian bowlers who were dominant over the Australian batsmen. Like the first innings of the Bangalore test, Zaheer Khan again dismissed Mathew Hayden on the very first over of the innings. So, Australia lost their first before putting any run on the scoreboard. In the 8th over, Ishant Sharma took the important wicket of Captain Ricky Ponting on 5 and thus Australia lost their second wicket on 17. Opener Simon Katich and Michael Hussey added 45 runs for the third wicket before the departure of Katich on 33. Debutant leg spinner Amit Mishra, who were playing in place of injury Anil Kumble, got his first test wicket by getting Katich out.
Michael Clarke then paired up with Hussey and it seemed they would finish the day undefeated. However, Amit Mishra once again appeared in the scene and picked up the wicket of Michael Clarke in the last over of the day. Clarke scored 23 runs before being trapped in LBW off Mishra. Hussey remained not out on 37 and has to play a vital role in helping Australia avoiding follow on. Australia still needs 168 runs to avoid follow on. However, Australia still has Shane Watson, Brad Haddin and Cameron White down the batting order. So, Australia has enough chance to send India to bat in the second innings.
