CALCUTTA, March 20: Mohammed Azharuddin and Saurav Ganguly joined forces to seal almost all escape routes for Australia. The Hyderabadi and Calcutta's joy sustained the charge of the Indian batting brigade as the Australian bowlers wilted in the near 40 degress celsius Eden Gardens cauldron on Day Three of the second Test.The Australian bowlers have not suffered this kind ignominy heaped upon them in 60 years. Not since the 1938 Oval Test, when England piled on 903 for seven, have they come in for such a pounding.The hyperactive electronic scoreboard beamed: ``Welcome to Calcutta, the city of Mother Teresa.'' But unlike the Mother's Missionaries of Charities, there was nothing benevolent about the Indians till skipper Azharuddin decided to halt the carnage against all expectations 39 minutes after tea.Michael Slater heightened his side's misery by extending his failure to four in the series. He dragged a ball on to his stumps by reaching out to a Javagal Srinath delivery.More cricket, morecenturies. That's Azharuddin's motto at the Eden Garden, where he scored his fifth century in six Tests. ``It has been my lucky venue ever since I came here as a schoolboy and got a half-century,'' he said. His Midas touch at the Eden Gardens now reads: 110 vs England on debut in 1984, 141 vs Pakistan in 1987, 60 vs West Indies in 1987, 182 vs England in 1993, 109 and 52 vs South Africa in 1996 and now the 163 not out against Australia.There is a sense of occasion in Azharuddin's batsmanship. And style is so much a part of him. And style was to the fore again when he moved towards his progressive milestones today - getting his 50 with a boundary, hundred with a six and moving to one short of his 150 with another six.His batsmanship, a sight for sore eyes, has even send trenchant critics into raptures. Two caressed drives on either side of the wicket off Shane Warne had Bishen Bedi shouting ``classic'' in appreciation. The shots, with minimum power with maximum effect, frustrated the wizard who triedunsuccessfully to send a bouncer.Rahul Dravid, 76 overnight, almost predictably fell in sight of his century. For a batsman who is so correct, the stroke which got him out was a crime. Blewett dug one in short and wide outside the off-stump and Dravid chose the wrong line for the pull. The ball hit high on his bat to miscue into a tame return catch.Dravid's scores in the last 18 innings is truly staggering: 148, 81 (both against South Africa), 43, 51, 57, 78, 2, 37 not out (all vs West Indies), 69, 2, 16, 34, 92, 93, 85 (all against Sri Lanka), 52, 58 and 86 (vs Australia) - the last six scores equalling Gundappa Vishwanath's record of six successive half-centuries by an Indian in Tests.Ganguly signalled his intentions early by hoisting Gavin Robertson for a six and got the bulk his runs in boundaries. His effort, in the stand of 158, overshadowed only because of the brilliance of Azharuddin. His soft dismissal - caught bat-pad at silly point - came after he became the sixth successive batsman inthe Indian line-up to get past the half-century mark.Nayan Mongia, scoring freely, could have become the seventh had Azharuddin not effected the closure, without giving any thought to a personal glory - an elusive double century.A word about Warne. There are only 10 instances when the great man had conceded 100 runs or more in an innings in his fabulous career and just once ending without a wicket after conceding that many runs. One of the most cost-effective bowlers with a fantastic strike rate, Warne conceded so much and went without a wicket in all his Tests. His plight also reflects the misery of the beleaguered tourists.Azharuddin joins select band Indian skipper Mohammed Azharuddin became the 15th batsmen in Test cricket to score 20 or more centuries. He achieved this feat when he scored an unbeaten 163 in the first innings of the second Test at Calcutta today. His 20th century came in the 130th innings of his 90th match. Sunil Gavaskar, who scored 34 centuries in 125matches, heads the list of 15 batsmen who have 20 or more centuries. The other batsmen are: Sir Don Bradman (Australia, 29), Allan Border (Australia, 27), Gary Sobers (West Indies, 26), Greg Chappell (Australia, 24), Viv Richards (West Indies, 24), Javed Miandad (Pakistan, 23), Geoff Boycott (England, 22), Colin Cowdrey (England, 22), Wally Hammond (England, 22), David Boon (Australia, 21), Neil Harvey (Australia, 21), Ken Barrington (England, 20), Graham Gooch (England, 20) Break-up of Azhar's 20 centuries: 1 110 vs England in 1984; 2 105 vs England in 1985, 3 122 vs England in 1985;4 199 vs Sri Lanka in 1986; 5 141 vs Pakistan in 1987; 6 110 vs Pakistan in 1987; 7 109 vs Pakistan in 1989; 8 192 vs New Zealand in 1990; 9 121 vs England in 1990; 10 179 vs England in 1990; 11 106 vs Australia in 1992; 12 182 vs England in 1993; 13 108 vs Sri Lanka in 1994; 14 152 vs Sri Lanka in 1994; 15 109 vs South Africa in 1996; 16 163 not out vs South Africa in 1996; 17 115 vs South Africa in 1997; 18 125 vsSri Lanka in 1997; 19 108 not out vs Sri Lanka in 1997; 20 163 not out vs Australia in 1998.India's third highest total in TestsIndia recorded their third highest total in Test cricket when they declared their first innings at 633 for five. India's highest total is 676 against Sri Lanka at Kanpur in 1986-87.India also bettered their highest total against Australia. India's 600 for four at Sydney in 1985-86 series was their previous best. India have crossed the 600 mark in Test cricket only on five occasions in Test matches.Compiled by S Pervez Qaiser and H Natarajan
