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Mohali : Rahul Dravid scored his 59th half century as India reached 191 for three at lunch, in reply to Australia's
first innings score of 428, on the third day of the first cricket Test at the PCA Stadium, here today. At the break, Dravid was batting on 62 and giving him company was Sachin Tendulkar, who is undefeated on 21.
The former India captain hit 10 fours in the 106 balls he has played so far, while Tendulkar also hit couple of delightful boundaries off pacer Ben Hilfenhaus including a cover drive and another one past the cover point region.
The only batsman to be dismissed during the session was nightwatchman Ishant Sharma, who scored 18 before shouldering arms to a Doug Bollinger delivery that held its line before hitting the stumps.
A total of 81 runs were scored in the opening session as Indian batsmen played cautiously after starting on their overnight score
of 110 for two.
Dravid, who was unbeaten on 21 overnight, started cautiously with Ishant, who did a commendable job and played out the first session to help the top-order batsmen to follow.
Growing in confidence watching Dravid comfortably negotiate the pacespin duo of Mitchell Johnson and offie Nathan Hauriz, the lanky pacer played a few plucky shots, including a cover drive of Hauritz.. He added 45 runs with Dravid, who was a picture of concentration as he mostly left the deliveries on the off-stump channel. The only risky shot he played was off Hilfenhaus as the ball flew past the vacant third slip region.
Dravid and Ishant took India's score to 150 in the 37th over. But it was after the first drinks' break that Australia managed a
breakthrough when Bollinger disturbed Ishant's timber. On the other hand, the highlight of Dravid's innings was a bowler's
back drive off Johnson. He reached his half century when he deliberately opened the face of the bat to guide a Johnson delivery past gully.
Having reached his 50, Dravid square cut Hauritz for a boundary. Tendulkar too looked in superb touch after arriving at the crease and started middling the ball right from the onset.
The Australian bowlers strangely did not attack much. Also the slowness in the strip is causing a problem for the pacers as they
love to hit the deck. Johnson, who has figures of two for 45, has bowled well in patches, while Bollinger was impressive in the morning as he scalped the only wicket of the session.
However, both Hilfenhaus and Hauritz were on the expensive side. While Hilfenhaus gave away 64 runs in 16 overs, Hauritz had an unimpressive none for 48 to show for his efforts.
The off-spinner often bowled short and gave a lot of width to the batsman to go for their cut shots. PTI
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first innings score of 428, on the third day of the first cricket Test at the PCA Stadium, here today. At the break, Dravid was batting on 62 and giving him company was Sachin Tendulkar, who is undefeated on 21.
The former India captain hit 10 fours in the 106 balls he has played so far, while Tendulkar also hit couple of delightful boundaries off pacer Ben Hilfenhaus including a cover drive and another one past the cover point region.
The only batsman to be dismissed during the session was nightwatchman Ishant Sharma, who scored 18 before shouldering arms to a Doug Bollinger delivery that held its line before hitting the stumps.
A total of 81 runs were scored in the opening session as Indian batsmen played cautiously after starting on their overnight score
of 110 for two.
Dravid, who was unbeaten on 21 overnight, started cautiously with Ishant, who did a commendable job and played out the first session to help the top-order batsmen to follow.
Growing in confidence watching Dravid comfortably negotiate the pacespin duo of Mitchell Johnson and offie Nathan Hauriz, the lanky pacer played a few plucky shots, including a cover drive of Hauritz.. He added 45 runs with Dravid, who was a picture of concentration as he mostly left the deliveries on the off-stump channel. The only risky shot he played was off Hilfenhaus as the ball flew past the vacant third slip region.
Dravid and Ishant took India's score to 150 in the 37th over. But it was after the first drinks' break that Australia managed a
breakthrough when Bollinger disturbed Ishant's timber. On the other hand, the highlight of Dravid's innings was a bowler's
back drive off Johnson. He reached his half century when he deliberately opened the face of the bat to guide a Johnson delivery past gully.
Having reached his 50, Dravid square cut Hauritz for a boundary. Tendulkar too looked in superb touch after arriving at the crease and started middling the ball right from the onset.
The Australian bowlers strangely did not attack much. Also the slowness in the strip is causing a problem for the pacers as they
love to hit the deck. Johnson, who has figures of two for 45, has bowled well in patches, while Bollinger was impressive in the morning as he scalped the only wicket of the session.
However, both Hilfenhaus and Hauritz were on the expensive side. While Hilfenhaus gave away 64 runs in 16 overs, Hauritz had an unimpressive none for 48 to show for his efforts.
The off-spinner often bowled short and gave a lot of width to the batsman to go for their cut shots. PTI
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