India vs Australia - Second Test - Day 4

I watched the CricInfo live ball-by-ball commentary, doing it's little 30 second refresh thing, hoping, and hoping, that wickets would tumble, or runs would dry up, or something.

It wasn't to be. Gambhir and Sehwag were merciless. Australian bowlers were ineffectual. The singles came, relentlessly, each one representing one more nail in the coffin as far as this result goes.

Finally, after I had moved away from my desk, the call came from the next office..."we got one!". Siddle, the Axeman, had broken through. Too little, too late you would imagine.

India marched on and on. Dhoni coming in to make intentions clear. The lead moves to over 400 and by now, I know, the TV stations will be flashing up all those record run chase statistics as they always do in this situation. Usually, though, the shoe is on the other foot...Hussey is bowling!

And so this went on, until a strange drink break, followed by one over, then the declaration. With 516 needed, Australia out of the game.

I was hoping from some sort of statement. Not expecting Australia to win, or even draw at this stage, I hoped for something, anything that would provide hope for the remaing two tests. For a brief moment I got it, with Hayden and Katich scoring at about 5 per over. Then, the icing on the cake for India. The debacle of the second test was complete. Harbhajan takes 3 for 3, more nails in the coffin and my prediction from yesterday, of an India win around lunch on Day 5 looks pretty good.

Australia stuggled to 5 for about 150 by close of play, and that took a 100 run stand form Haddin and Clarke.

Now, I've found a positive! Clarke is not out! He has managed to survive the final overs. Hang on a minute...I've just checked the commentary - Haddin takes a single from the last ball of the second last over, then takes the entire last over. Does anyone think he was shielding Pup from yet another last over disaster?

Labels: aus v ind 2008