Sat, Dec 29, 2007 page20

• Aussies set Indians formidable target

  BOWLERS TOIL Despite Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting registering his first pair of single digit scores in a Test since 2001, his side extended their lead to almost 500

  • AFP
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  India will have to do what no other Test team has done before to win the first Test after Australia established a huge lead at the Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday.

  Australian skipper Ricky Ponting set the Indians 499 to win with just over two days left after he declared Australia's second innings at 351 for seven late on the third day.

  India safely reached stumps at six without loss, with Rahul Dravid on three and Wasim Jaffer on two.

  

  Australian batsman Michael Clarke, right, plays a shot as Indian wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni watches on the third day of the first Test at the MCG in Melbourne, Australia, yesterday.

  PHOTO: EPA

  Only three teams in Test cricket history have scored 400 or more in the fourth innings for victory.

  The West Indies hold the Test record of 418 for seven when they beat Australia in Antigua in 2003, while India amassed 406 for four to down the West Indies in Trinidad in 1976 and Australia hit 404 for three to defeat England at Headingley in 1948.

  But the pitch is playing low and cracking, making high scoring problematic in the fourth innings.

  "I'd like to say they have no chance, but the reality is they have to get 493 runs and they've got two days to get it so they have plenty of time," Australian batsman Michael Clarke said.

  "But I also believe if we bowl as well as we can and hold our chances I think there is a possibility the game could be over tomorrow as well," he said.

  Harbhajan Singh, India's leading wicket-taker yesterday, said: "Obviously, it's a stiff target, but I won't say it's not achievable."

  "With the kind of batting lineup we have, if we play to our potential anything can happen in cricket and this is a good wicket to bat on and I'm sure our batsmen are looking forward to going out and showing some character tomorrow," he said.

  Before lunch India claimed the wickets Matthew Hayden and Ponting, followed by the dismissals of Phil Jaques, Mike Hussey and Andrew Symonds in the middle session, with Michael Clarke and Adam Gilchrist sent on their way after tea.

  Opener Jaques picked up his sixth consecutive Test half-century but was out next ball caught and bowled by Anil Kumble for 51.

  Hussey wrestled for 36 off 84 balls before he was caught by Sachin Tendulkar at slip off R.P. Singh.

  Symonds was bowled off a no-ball by Zaheer Khan before he was out leg before to him for 44.

  Clarke looked set for his sixth Test century before he danced down the pitch to Kumble and was stumped for 73 off 113 balls.

  Gilchrist took on the leg-side field and was caught by Singh in the deep off Harbhajan for 35.

  Ponting called a halt to the innings and declared leaving the Indians to negotiate eight overs before the close of play.

  Hayden skied Harbhajan Singh off a leading edge to Sourav Ganguly at long-off for 47.

  Ponting failed for the second time in the Test when he was caught at slip by Rahul Dravid playing forward for three in Harbhajan's next over.

  His four and three were his first single digit scores in a Test since a six and a duck against India at Calcutta 72 Tests ago in March 2001.

  Harbhajan finished with 3-101 off 26 overs.
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