Gautam Gambhir’s unbeaten 149 and some elegant knocks by little master Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman gave India the edge in the third Test against Australia at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi. India finished 296 for 3 at stumps on Day 1.
After two early jolts, Gambhir and Sachin built the whole innings well by taking the scoreboard from 27 for two. Gautam put on 130 runs with Sachin Tendulkar (68) and then 130-run stand with Laxman (54 not out) while scoring his third Test century.
Gambhir hit a career best 149 to dispel his previous best of 139 against Bangladesh. Surprisingly, the Delhi opener took four years to strike his second Test ton, which was in the last Test at Mohali and then another one here in Delhi, one after the other.
However, his mettle being a prolific run-scorer in domestic cricket comes into show with his partnership with Tendulkar and Laxman. Sachin too transporting his last performance made his 124-ball half-century before falling to Mitchell Johnson. This was his 51st Test fifty.
Laxman then carried the innings on and reached to his 36th Test fifty while playing his 99th Test match.
Earlier after opting to bat first, India lost local boy Virender Sehwag (1) and ‘The Wall’ Rahul Dravid (11) in the first 11 overs.
Australia trail 1-0 in the four-match Test series after losing the previous match in Mohali by a huge margin of 320 runs. The first Test in Bangalore ended in a draw.
Brief Score: India 1st innings: 296 in 89 overs (Gautam Gambhir -149 not out, Sachin Tendulkar 68, VVS Laxman -- 54 not out, Brett Lee 1/70, Mitchell Johnson 2/69).
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