Aussies finish at 577; Sehwag bags five-wicket haul

Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke hit his eighth Test century to carry their innings forward with 500 plus runs in reply to India’s first innings total of 613 runs. However, it was yet again part-time off-spinner Virender Sehwag, who claimed his first five-wicket haul at home ground Kotla to restrain Australian batting to a total of 577.

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Earlier Clarke along with Shane Watson (36) and Cameron White (44) tried to develop a strong innings, but Sehwag got hold of those priceless wickets to add to his tally of 5 for 104. Sehwag had already bagged the wickets of Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey on the day-three.

Clarke, after making an exigent knock of 112 fell to the bowing of leg spinner Amit Mishra. Prior to that, Brad Haddin (17) and Bret Lee (8) were the victims of skipper Anil Kumble; he finished with a figure of 3/112.

Australians were 539 for seven at tea in their first innings but the last three wickets fell cheaply in a space of just 38 runs. India registered a 36 run lead in first innings.

Brief Scores

India 1st innings: 613 for seven declared (Gautam Gambhir 206, VVS Laxman 200 not out, Sachin Tendulkar 68, Anil Kumble 45; Mitchell Johnson 3/142, Shane Watson 2/66, Brett Lee 1/119, Simon Katich 1/60).

Australia 1st innings: 577 all out (Michael Clarke 112, Ricky Ponting 87, Matthew Hayden 83, Simon Katich 64; Virender Sehwag 5/104, Anil Kumble 3/112, Amit Mishra 2/144).

India 2nd Innings: 43/2- Gambhir batting (21), Sehwag (16); Bret Lee 1/19, Stuart Clark 16/1.

Teams

India: G Gambhir, V Sehwag, R Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, MS Dhoni (wk), A Kumble (capt), Z Khan, I Sharma, A Mishra.

Australia: Simon Katich, ML Hayden, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michel Hussey, Michel Clarke, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin (wk), CL White, Bret Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clark.