Story ICC Best Of The Rest Championship

[Short Leg]

Hit Out Or Get Out​

1st TVS Test - Eden Gardens, Kolkata
India 66/3
3:28pm - Day 3

Sehwag 46(41)
Tendulkar 13(21)*

Lee 1/20
Bracken 2/43
Warne 0/3

India lead by 96 runs

The ICC that gives no points for a draw has meant that India have nothing to lose because they already have first innings points so they might aswell go for the win. And thats just what they did. Sehwag went hell for leather in an amzingly quick knock of 46 taking apart Nathan Bracken and his figures before finally having him caught at extra cover by Matty Hayden.

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Yuvraj Singh will want to continue his form from the fisrt innings where he made that unreal hundred. At this run rate we will get a result in the match but some of that depends on whether Australia can chase quickly enough if a big total is set or if India can take all 10 wickets in time.

 

[Short Leg]

Take A Breather​

1st TVS Test - Eden Gardens, Kolkata
India 3/80 - 16 overs
Tea - Day 3

Tendulkar 21(30)*
Yuvraj Singh 5(12)*

Lee 1/20
Bracken 2/47
Warne 0/13

India lead by 110

It's now time to take a 20 minute break from the action as this match has been a beauty so far. So many questions still to be answer in this first test. Hoe many is enough for India? Will they attack all the way throughthe innings? How long do they need to bowl Australia out and go 1-0 up in the series?

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India will probably go for 300 plus against this weakened bowling attack and then put Australia in for a day and a session maybe. The final session on Day 3 is set to be one of the best so dont go anywhere.

 

[Short Leg]

Had The Chance And Threw It Away​

1st TVS Test - Eden Gardens, Kolkata
India 4/145 - 32 overs
5:08pm - Day 3

Tendulkar 66(66)
Yuvraj Singh 22(67)*

Lee 2/36
Bracken 2/48
Warne 0/30
Symonds 0/31

India lead by 175 runs

After reaching his second half century of the match Sachin Tendulkar again threw it away with a rash shot. Brett Lee's second wicket gets Australia back into it after a lengthy partnership where Yuvraj has struggled. After the wicket Australia went into the huddle that India have made famous as they are trying to send a message to the home team that it wont be easy to beat the champions.

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Australia must take regular wickets now if they are to have a chance of winning the match. If they allow India to bat through tomorrow then they will rack up enough runs to make a very tough chase for Australia.

 

[Short Leg]

At It Again​

1st TVS Test - Eden Gardens, Kolkata
India 4/232 - 44 overs
Stumps - Day 3

Yuvraj Singh 67(107)*
VVS Laxman 38(37)*

Lee 2/44
Bracken 2/79
Warne 0/52
Symonds 0/34
Hussey 0/23

India lead by 262 runs

It's the Yuvraj and Laxman show again at Kolkata as they have batted superbly until the close of play here on day 3. It's been all class from Yuvraj who is set to make a hundred in each innings of this test that will really put the pressure on Australia. At this rate the home team will be able to declare and leave Australia with a big chase.

The Indians have taken to Nathan Bracken throughout the day which will leave selectors questioning his position in the side. Unusualy Shane Warne has had little effect on this match so far and is left with figures of 2/145 for the match so far. Ricky Ponting was looking for answers when he threw Mike Hussey the ball but got no reply.

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Ponting now looks like his only option is to defend and hope that he can bore out the batsman and waste a bit of time while there at it.

 

[Short Leg]

Yuvraj Out Short Of History​

1st TVS Test - Eden Gardens, Kolkata
India 5/263 - 54 overs
11:44am - Day 4

Yuvraj Singh 77(137)
VVS Laxman 56(62)*

Lee 3/51
Bracken 2/79
Warne 0/70
Symonds 0/37
Hussey 0/23

India lead by 293 runs

A partnership of 118 to rival there first innings partnership of over 200 came to an end when Yuvraj skied a ball off Lee out to long off where Hodge made no mistake. It would be very interesting indeed if Australia where able to take the remaing wickets and be chasing a total of around 350 however India still have very capable batsman to come so it wont be easy.

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Warney continues to get tapped around the ground without picking up a wicket however Brett Lee has made up for his fellow bowlers lack of effectivness with great lines and flat out pace. India need to win the mental battle of declaring in both innings which will lead Australia into the state of mind that there attack isnt good enough to take 20 wickets.

 

[Short Leg]

India In Control​

1st TVS Test - Eden Gardens, Kolkata
India 5/303 - 71 overs
Lunch - Day 4

VVS Laxman 79(107)*
Dhoni 16(62)*

Lee 3/53
Bracken 2/88
Warne 0/86
Symonds 0/43
Hussey 0/23
Hodge 0/6

India lead by 333 runs

India is ontop in this match at the moment with the luncheon break upon us but a few quick wickets will fix that for Australia. However VVS Laxman is proving a hard man to get rid of as he works towards a hundred to go with his first innings 70. Dhoni is showing good defense from the other end.

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The Kolkata crowd sense victory​

Brad Hodge was given a gig with the ball whilest the front line bowlers kept at it for Australia trying to find that key ingredient to knock over India for a gettable total.

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When will this man declare?​

The interesting question now is how long will skipper Rahul Dravid leave his me at the crease. Maybe something around the 420 mark would be a good total to leave Australia with a day and a session to do it in however he may want to play them out of the game and then look to get wickets whilest Australia defend.

 

[Short Leg]

Roy Answers The Call​

1st TVS Test - Eden Gardens, Kolkata
India 6/334 - 80 overs
2:12pm - Day 4

VVS Laxman (94)131*
Dhoni 30(92)

Lee 3/72
Bracken 2/89
Warne 0/86
Symonds 1/53
Hussey 0/23
Hodge 0/6

India lead by 364 runs

It was Andrew Symonds that has provided the breakthrough having Dhoni caught behind for a well made 30. The home team has now been reduced to 6 down with a sizable lead as the the tail end now comes to the crease.

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With Laxman nearing a hundred it is vital for India that he goes on to make a big hundred with some support from the tail. Pathan who is the new man in showed in the first innings with his unbeaten 49 that this innings is far from dead. Another 60-80 runs may be the difference in Australias chance of winning the match.

 

[Short Leg]

Symonds On Fire As Laxman Falls Short​

1st TVS Test - Eden Gardens, Kolkata
India 7/344 - 82 overs
2:22pm - Day 4

VVS Laxman 96(137)
Pathan 7(5)*

Lee 3/79
Bracken 2/89
Warne 0/86
Symonds 2/56
Hussey 0/23
Hodge 0/6

India lead by 374 runs

Andrew Symonds has destroyed the hopes of a hundred for VVS Laxman having hm out just 4 runs hsort of the milestone. An inspired spell of bowling has Roy picking up his second wicket in back to back overs with Gilchrist mopping up his work behind the stumps.

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Australia now in good position to clean up the tail and have a bat in chase of the required runs but they will have to do so with only 9 wickets as McGrath has retured home.

 

[Short Leg]

Australia Prepare To Go To War​

1st TVS Test - Eden Gardens, Kolkata
India All Out 420 - 97.1 overs
3:37pm - Day 4

Australia require 451 runs to win

India are bowled out just in time as they have a big lead and will also get two overs at the Australian opening pair before the players go to tea. Some competitive lower oder batting and feirce bowling made for a good contest before India were all out.

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This bloke proved that its all happening in the centre​

A good chase is now set up for Australia but they will need to score very very quickly if they are to manage 450 runs in just a day and a sesion. Australai are tipped to attempt a chase but will probably pull up if they lose wickets early in a bid to stop India from claiming outright points.

A solid team effort in racking up the total for India with a few starts that failed to kick on. The feature was a faultless innings from Laxman...... well faultless until he got to 96. Breet Lee was the workhorse for Australia finishing with 4 however Symonds was the most effective bowlers once he found his rythm. Warne was plundered all over the park and picked up just the one scalp off a misshit from Pathan. Question marks will remain on Nathan Bracken who took two but never really looked like causing problems.

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Can Langer and Hayden fire early or will India wrap up the first test by taking the nine wickets they require. The is plenty of time for a result so what is everyone predicting for the run chase in the first test?

 

[Short Leg]

Let The Chase Begin​

1st TVS Test - Eden Gardnes, Kolkata
Australia 1/44 - 13 overs
4:52pm - Day 4

Langer 23(46)
Hayden 18(31)*

Pathan 1/21
Khan 0/22

Australia require 407 runs to win

Australia knew that a good start is crucial to there success as Langer and Hayden went out to the middle. They would be looking for a 100 run session with no more than 1 or 2 wickets down at stumps if they are to have a chance of winning or saving the match.

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A good start is crucial​

Mtthew Hayden Survived a close call that hit him infront of off stump but Steve Bucknor gave not out and Hayden dodges a bullet on 18.

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Haydos can consider himself lucky to still be there​

Some bad news for Australians watching back home as the news from India is that Justin Langer is out after his first innings hundred however there will be no encore. Skying a cut shot that was taken comfortably by Harbhajan as he began the walk back.

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An unlucky end to Langer after his return to form in this match​

What an oppertunity for out of form slipper Ricky Ponting to score a few and maybe even win the match for Australia here.

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Who knows what will happen as the latter half of this match unfolds. The fast scoring nature of this pitch means that Australia are just a few good sessions away from winning or it could go the other way. India just need a couple of wickets in a patch to wrap up Australias nine wickets.

 

[Short Leg]

Australia Steady At Stumps​

1st TVS Test - Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Australia 2/118 - 30 overs
Stumps - Day 4

Hayden 62(88)*
Ponting 21(35)
Hodge 3(11)*

Pathan 1/49
Khan 0/22
Harbhajan Singh 1/26
Kumble 0/14

Australia require 333 runs to win

A sad end for Ricky Ponting as he again got a score but failed to go on when he was caught behind just 10 minutes before stumps. The skipper will have to watch the rest of this match from the pavillion as he is yet to fire in the tournament.

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Ponting fails to silence his critics in this dig​

When Brad Hodge came to the wicket all he needed to do was wait out 10 minutes and look to score his runs tomorrow.

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Hodgey has impressed so far in his career​

Matthew Hayden is looking a squillion bucks in his carrer best form but lets not forget the chance Steve Bucknor gave him on just 18. He reached 50 in fine style with a boundary through mid wicket.

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Hayden is looking the goods out in the middle as he brings up 50​

This match is well poised going into the final days play. From what we have seen it doesnt look like the draw is an option unless Australia shut up shop. Australia will need to score 111 runs a session to win and India will have to take 7 wickets in the 90 overs play we will have on Day 5 live from Kolkata.

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Anyone have any thoughts on this one?

 

[Short Leg]

India Hold There Chances​

1st TVS Test - Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Australia 3/157 - 41 overs
11:48am - Day 5

Hayden 84(120)*
Hodge 18(44)

Pathan 1/58
Khan 0/22
Harbhajan Singh 1/37
Kumble 1/36

Australia trail by 290 runs

Just when a partnership went the way of Australia Brad Hodge played early on a top spinner from kumble and got a leading edge to Laxman who took a crucial catch. Australia now not looking so comfortbale with a wicket down in the first hour of Day 5.

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Hodge out when thats the last thing Australia wanted​

Andrew Symonds will be wanting to silence his critics in this innings or he could be packing his bags on the way home. Although his bowling may keep him on tour he needs to back it up with the willow.

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Does anyone have any encouragment for the Aussies?

 

[Cricket_60]

290 runs in 6 hours?

It's possible.

 

[gary0808]

India should win

 

[Gunner786]

come on symonds!!
destroy indias spinners