Bangalore Test poised to be another India-Australia humdinger

BANGALORE - India and Australia are heading towards another thriller of a Test match on day five of the Bangalore Test after both the teams failed to grasp the initiative on day four.

At the end of the day’s play, the visitors were struggling at 202 for seven in the second innings.

Australia is leading by 185 runs with three wickets in hand.

Skipper Ricky Ponting was the top scorer for Australia with 72 runs off 117 balls, and was well supported by Tim Paine (23) and Michael Hussey (20).

Left arm spinner Pragyan Ojha was the most successful bowler for India picking up three wickets, while Harbhajan Singh picked two.

Fast bowler Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth got a wicket apiece.

The momentum at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium can swing towards any team on Wednesday, similar to the situation on day five of the first match played at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali.

Earlier, India was bowled out for 495 in their first innings in reply to Australia’s 478.

Resuming at the overnight score of 435 for five, and 43 runs behind, India took a 17-run lead riding on Sachin Tendulkar’s sixth double century.

Tendulkar scored 214, but after his dismissal India faced a mini collapse by losing five wickets for nine runs.

M.S. Dhoni (30), Harbhajan Singh (four), Zaheer Khan (one) and Sreesanth (zero) were dismissed in quick session, which saw India being dismissed for 495.

Mitchell Johnson was the most successful bowler for Australia picking up three wickets, followed by debutant Peter George and Nathan Hauritz who picked up two wickets each.rief Scores:

Australia- 1st innings: 478 (Marcus North 128, Ricky Ponting 77, Tim Paine 59, Shane Watson 57; Harbhajan Singh 4/148, Pragyan Ojha 3/120)

2nd innings: 202/7 (Ponting (72), Shane Watson (32), Ojha 3/57)

India- 1st innings: 495 (Tendulkar 214, Murali Vijay 139; Mitchell Johnson 3/105, George 2/ 48) (ANI)