Zaheer Khan scores his maiden half-century in India

Bangalore, Oct 12 (IANS) Zaheer Khan's unbeaten 57 in the first Test against Australia here Sunday is his first half century at a home ground.

Zaheer's innings at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium surpassed England's Graham Dilley's 52-run knock (1981-82) as the best by a number nine batsman.

Other statistical highlights of Sunday's play:

* It is Zaheer's second Test half century. His career-best is 75 against Bangladesh in the 2004-05 Dhaka Test.

* Zaheer is now the fourth player to register a half-century while batting at number nine against the Aussies, joining Karsan Ghavri (86 at Mumbai in 1979-80), Kiran More (67 not out at Melbourne in 1991-92) and Harbhajan Singh (63 at Sydney and 63 at Adelaide in 2007-08).

* Zaheer (5/91 + 57 not out) has emulated the all-round feats of India's two great all-rounder's against Australia. Rusi Surti (70 & 53 + 5 for 74) was the first to achieve the distinction against Australia in the 1967-68 Adelaide Test. Twenty four years later, Kapil Dev (3/33 & 5/130 + 56) registered the feat at the same venue in 1991-92.

* Australia, by conceding 52 runs as extras in India's innings of 360, has equalled their previous record. In England's innings of 309 in the 1982-83 Brisbane Test, Australia had conceded 52 as extras.

* Ishant Sharma has bagged six wickets (4/77 + 2/27) for the first time in his Test career, surpassing his 5 for 73 (3/55 + 2/18) in the 2007-08 Kanpur Test against South Africa.

* The Bangalore Test has so far produced 44 leg byes, bettering the previous record of 42 in the 2007-08 Adelaide Test.