India's positive intent stuns Aussies

India rode on Virender Sehwag's record-equalling half-century to reach 110-2 in their first innings in reply to Australia's 428 in the opening Test on Saturday. The Indian opener scored a blazing 59 off 54 balls with 10 fours in the final session after Australian wicketkeeper Tim Paine (92) had missed out on a maiden Test hundred on the second day.

With the pitch offering no help to bowlers, Australia struggled to contain runs as Sehwag went for his shots from the beginning and raced to his half-century off 38 balls.

After Australia had sweated to score at 2.82 an over, the Indians were soon careering along at a run a ball to upset a visiting attack that battled to regain control. Sehwag started biffing through the offside, hitting two boundaries from a Doug Bollinger over, and then crashing three off Ben Hilfenhaus. Australia introduced spin after 12 overs, Nathan Hauritz's first ball went over mid-off, his next sped along the ground in the same region for the same result, and the over cost 11. But Sehwag, who was eventually caught by Michael Clarke in the covers off a leading edge to become paceman Mitchell Johnson's second victim.

Earlier, this morning, Australia were indebted to Paine for adding 153 runs for their last four wickets as he was involved in crucial stands with Johnson (47) and tail-ender Ben Hilfenhaus (20 not out). Paine, who added 53 for the sixth wicket with opener Shane Watson (126), put on 82 for the seventh with Johnson and 54 for the ninth with Hilfenhaus to shatter India's hopes of restricting the tourists to a modest total. Wicketkeeper Paine, playing only his third Test, was earlier instrumental in boosting Australia with a solid knock that came off 196 balls with the help of 12 boundaries.


India's bowlers struggled against determined Australian batting on an easy-paced pitch, taking just one wicket in the first session and two in the second. Left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan was the most impressive bowler with 5-94, his 10th haul of five or more wickets in a Test innings. Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh finished with 3-114.

The India batting order looks so strong that with Sachin, Laxman, Raina and Dhoni still to come, India will look towards targetting the Aussies 1st innings score of 428, that would eventually earn a Test draw.