Test in twilight, Indians in the shadows

The third day8217;s play contained a clear message: India will have to revive those two Kolkata days of three years ago if they wish to sta...

The third day8217;s play contained a clear message: India will have to revive those two Kolkata days of three years ago if they wish to stay afloat in the first Test. With a 400-plus chase a certainty now, India will have to overcome a number of odds including woeful batting form, determined Australian bowlers and a crumbling pitch.

As on many occasions in the recent past, Irfan Pathan provided India with a ray of hope when he trapped Justin Langer in front of the wicket in the first over of the Australian second innings on Friday at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Despite that, though, Australia cruised to a commanding 355-run lead by close.

Earlier in the day, once Australia did not enforce the follow-on, it was apparent that they were looking for quick runs. Matthew Hayden and Simon Katich added 65 at just over-four an over before Harbhajan Singh8217;s throw beat the former.

The search for runs at a rapid pace then cost them the wickets of Darren Lehmann and Katich. Katich, who looked comfortable at the crease, edged a delivery from Anil Kumble into the waiting hands of Rahul Dravid at first slip and Aakash Chopra at forward short-leg grabbed Lehmann8217;s tentative push off Harbhajan.

But the Indian bowlers could not breach the defence of Damien Martyn and Michael Clarke, the first innings centurion. Sourav Ganguly tried to put pressure on the Aussie batsmen by deploying a packed close field but the two were too wily for such tactics as they blunted the bowlers8217; attempt to take one more wicket before close with tight defence and occasional boundaries.

India8217;s primary aim in the morning session was to avoid the follow-on. The sight of Parthiv Patel and Pathan negotiating the Aussie bowling with commendable ease might have made the top-order batsmen lament a lost opportunity to assert themselves over the visitors.

The diminutive Patel was particularly impressive. He had disappointed behind the stumps during the Aussies8217; first innings but in front of the stumps he proved a doughty customer.

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He showed immense concentration against both pace and spin and an on-drive off Shane Warne revealed that the 19-year-old has a repertoire to match his fast-growing maturity. He batted sensibly till a nippy one from Jason Gillespie sent his middle-stump cartwheeling.

Meanwhile, Pathan again proved his worth with a large-hearted performance. Together with Patel, he snuffed out Australian hopes of early wickets with a determined show. It came to an end when a slip in judgment by umpire Billy Bowden ended Pathan8217;s tenure at the crease.

SCOREBOARD

	nbsp;	Australia First innings: 474 all out off 130 overs India First innings: A Chopra lbw McGrath 0, V Sehwag c Langer b Kasprowicz 39, R Dravid b McGrath 0, S Ganguly c Gilchrist b Kasprowicz 45, VVS Laxman b Warne 31, Yuvraj Singh c Gilchrist b McGrath 5, P Patel b Gillespie 46, I Pathan c Gilchrist b Warne 31, A Kumble b Gillespie 26, Harbhajan Singh c Lehmann b McGrath 8, Z Khan not out 0 Extras b 5, lb 2, w 5, nb 3:15 Total all out off 89.2 overs 246 FoW: 1-0, 2-4, 3-87, 4-98, 5-124, 6-136, 7-196, 8-227, 9-244 Bowling: G McGrath 25-8-55-4, J Gillespie 16.2-3-63-2, S Warne 28-4-78-2, M Kasprowicz 20-4-43-2 Australia Second innings: J Langer lbw Pathan 0, M Hayden run out 30, S Katich c Dravid b Kumble 39, D Martyn not out 29, D Lehmann c Chopra b Harbhajan 14, M Clarke not out 11 Extras b 2, w 1, nb 1: 4 Total for 4 wickets off 42 overs 127 FoW: 1-0, 2-65, 3-86, 4-104 Bowling: I Pathan 9-2-28-1, Z Khan 7-1-27-0, H Singh 15-2-43-1, A Kumble 11-2-26-1	nbsp;