Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2008/09, Third Test

Clarke Ton Takes Australia To Safety In India, 4th Day of 3rd Test

New Delhi: 'Old habits die hard' and catches win matches. 'These old sayings rushed to mind as India frittered away whatever little chance they had of eking out a win in the third Test againsts Australian on Saturday.

India are 79 ahead, having lost Sehwag and Ishant, sent in as nightwatchman. A good way for Australia to end their day of dominance, with the new-ball pairing taking a wicket each.

There wasn't a lot for India today. Their fielding was ragged and the catching very poor, with three straightforward catches going down off Clarke. Sehwag took his maiden five-wicket haul, exploiting the rough in the track, and Kumble took three down the order.

Highlights of the day

Virender Sehwag completed his first fiver and Michael Clarke walked away with a hundred but the wicket continued to behave like a sleeping beauty as the Aussie fell just 36 short of India's imposing total.

Virender Sehwag with his career best 5-104 has become the first to post two triple hundreds (316 v South Africa and 309 v Pakistan) as well as produce a five wicket haul in Tests.

Five half centuries scored by Australia in their innings. They have achieved this feat for the first time against India. Overall 39 times Australia have registered five or more fifties in a Test innings.

Australia finish on 577, trailing by just 36 runs. We have a little less then an hour and a half left in the day. A very strong first innings from Australia, with the top five all getting past 50. Clarke's hundred was the highlight of the day, helping Australia reach safety. India's catching was abysmal, and only Sehwag's maiden five-wicket haul will give them reason to smile. Kumble came into the act to take three wickets. This match is all but drawn, kudos to Australia for their efforts.
 
An excellent innings from Clarke, irrespective of the three dropped catches today, once in the first half hour and two in the 90s, because you take what you get. Clarke held up on end for almost the entire day and if Australia have reached safety, its because of him.

Session Reports
1st Session - Runs 98, Wkt 2, Ov 31
2nd Session - Runs 103, Wkt 1, Ov 29
3rd Session - Runs 81, Wkt 5, Ov 27.3

Brief Score: India 613/7d & 43/2 (G Gambhir 21*) Lead Australia 577 (Clarke 112, Sehwag 5-104) trail by 79 runs
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details