Ishant Sharma inspires India fight back in Mohali Test

MOHALI - Pacer Ishant Sharma snapped up three wickets in quick succession, as India fought back in the later part of the first session on day four of the first Test against Australia here Monday.

Cruising at 87 without loss, with opener Shane Watson (56: 59 b, 7×4, 1×6) going great guns alongside Simon Katich (24 batting), the visitors lost theree batsmen to reach 100/3 at lunch in their second innings at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) stadium.

The Australians are now 123 runs ahead of the hosts, with Michael Hussey (0) giving company to Katich in the middle.

Sharma, who bowled only 11.4 overs in the first innings owing to an injury, had impressive figures of 3/25. However, his string of no balls continued as he bowled four more Monday, taking his tally to 14 in the match.

Watson was the first go, dragging the ball on to the stumps in an attempt to pull Sharma. Skipper Ricky Ponting (4) did not last long as he gave a catch to Suresh Raina off Sharma’s bowling.

Australian vice captain Michael Clarke (4) also fell as he tried to save himself from an awkwardly rising Sharma delivery. The ball took his glove and hit the shoulder, ballooning into an easy catch for wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.