2nd Test: Australia go past India's first innings score

Australian captain Michael Clarke acknowledges onlookers after reaching 50 runs on Day two of the second Test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground. (AFP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Michael Clarke slammed his 18th Test century to take Australia into commanding position at lunch on the second day of the second Test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Scorecard

Australia took a vital 45 runs lead with seven wicket remaining as skipper Clarke (103*) and Ricky Ponting (97*) were unbeaten.

India bowlers toiled hard in the first session as they conceded 120 runs in 27 overs without taking a single wicket.

The pair also stitched unbeaten 199 runs stand to defy Indian bowling and put Australia into commanding position. Both batsmen completed their half-centuries early on the second day to put Australia on top against the visitors.

Ponting continued his good run as he scored yet another fifty which brought up in style with a classy square cut played slightly on the front foot to the boundary. Ponting also became the third player in Test history to get 100th score in excess of 50.

Former skipper 61st Test fifty and 12th against India came in 74 balls that included six boundaries. This was his 6th half-century in a row against India.

Clarke raced to his fifty on the second delivery of the day when he flicked it through mid-wicket to complete his 22nd Test half century and 6th against India. Clarke completed his quick-fire fifty in just 60 balls with the help of seven boundaries.

Australia ended the first day well on top at 116/3 after restricting India for paltry 191, resumed their first innings on Day 2 of the second Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Zaheer Khan started with a bang as he gave two quick blows before the Australian total reached double-digits, followed by one more in the 30s, raised Indian hopes, but the home team recovered well through a fine unbeaten partnership of 79 runs between Ricky Ponting and Clarke to end the first day at 116/3.

MS Dhoni's decision to bat first after winning the toss backfired badly as India's famed batting line-up came a cropper yet again against a disciplined Australian pace attack.

Young James Pattinson ripped the heart out of India's line-up, claiming four of the top-five batsmen while Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus claimed three wickets each.

Dhoni (57*) was the highest scorer of the Indian innings which also was his first half century in Australia. Sachin Tendulkar faltered again in his quest for a 100th international century as he chopped a widish Pattinson delivery onto his stumps for 41.

Source: http://timesofindia.feedsportal.com/fy/8at2EuK0VDd9k1Y1/story01.htm

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