Krejza’s sensational eight-wicket haul debut

Australia’s hope of leveling the series rose when debutant Jason Krejza hauled a record equalling eight-wickets which triggered a dramatic Indian collapse on the second afternoon of the fourth Test.

Australia held the advantage when Simon Katich followed up the sensational debut of Krejza with a brilliant unbeated knock of 92 as he along with Michael Hussy put on an unbroken 115-run third wicket stand finishing the day on 189 for two.

Krejza who had been ignored for the first three Tests, showed the mistake the Aussies had done with a dream spell in which he took five wickets for 16 runs to leave the Indians on 441 after being 404 for 5 at lunch.

Australia enter the third day still 252 runs short of India’s first innings total with 8 wickets in hand.

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Indian innings come to a close

Finally the Australian bowlers finished off the Indians for 360 as the Aussies head into their second innings with a lead of 70.

A fantastic performance by Zaheer Khan, after claiming 5 wickets, top scored for the Indians with 57 not out. This is his second best batting performance.

Ponting may be disappointed with such a slender lead. Some are predicting due to the conditions of the one year old pitch at Bangalore, Australia’s second innings might not exceed 200.

An exciting start as Zaheer Khan is getting the new ball to move.

Indian tail enders holding up

Zaheer Khan is keeping things tight at the moment. He got to his 50, but Anil Kumble has now been adjudged LBW. Shane Watson confidence is up. The Aussie bowlers are toiling this morning, lets see how long it will be before the last wicket is down.

Mitchell Johnson rocks India’s top order Batsmen

After a four wicket haul from Mitchell Johnson, Harbhajan Singh led an Indian revival at the end of the first Test against Australia in Bangalore.

Harbhajan struck a half century as the Indian tail frustrated the Aussies, to reach the close at 313 for 8.

Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag all provided useful knocks of 51, 47 and 45n respectively. Harbhajan and Zaheer Khan lead a fightback for the eight wicket with a stand of 80, that ended just before stumps when the off-spinner edged a rising Shane Watson delivery to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

Johnson claimed the prized wickets of three top order batsmen with an outstanding spell of pace and swing. Brett Lee gave the Aussies a head start, when he had Gautam Ghambir trapped plumb in front. Then it was Johnson all the way as he dismissed Sehwag, when he slashed at a delivery and the outer edge flew straight to Matthew Hayden at first slip.

Both openers Sehwag and Ghambir failed to add significantly to their overnight score as Sehwag fell for 45 and Ghambir added only one run for 21.

India was in distress when Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman were dismissed in quick succession. Tendulkar, needing only 77 runs to better Brian Lara’s world record of the highest run getter in Test cricket, only managed 13 before he scooped a catch to Cameron White at short cover.

Laxman was Johnson’s third wicket, when the right hander edged Johnson to Haddin after facing 11 deliveries for no score. Ganguly, who is set to retire at the end of the series, battled on patiently before he was dismissed for 47. The left hander, and former India captain was Johnson’s fourth.