Bengaluru: Sachin Tendulkar and M. Vijay destroyed Australia’s bowling attack to record a mammoth 308 runs partnership for the third wicket, on the third day of the second Test at the Chinnaswamy stadium.
They steered India 43 runs close to Australia’s first innings score of 478 with five wickets in hand.
Tendulkar notched up his 49th Test century, while Vijay cracked his maiden ton. They made the Australians toil hard for 385 minutes to break the partnership.
Tendulkar remained unconquered on 191 runs, studded with 20 boundaries and two sixes.
Vijay fell for 139 after hitting 14 boundaries and two sixes. Both batsmen had settled down on the Bengaluru pitch. The Australian bowling, which has been the most hostile in the world for quite a few years, seemed weak in front of both of these batsmen who recorded one of the finest third wicket partnerships in Test cricket history.
The marathon partnership finally ended at the score on 346 when Vijay, trying to force Mitchell Johnson through the covers, got an edge to wicketkeeper Tim Paine.
From the very first ball of the day, Tendulkar displayed his intentions of playing a long innings. The very first ball from Hauritz's unfinished over was whacked for a boundary to a deep square leg. One ball later he swept Hauritz for another boundary to record his half century.
Tendulkar's confidence seemed to have rubbed off on Vijay too who was hit a square drive off Johnson for a boundary. On 49 he escaped being run out when Hauritz’s throw went wide of the stumps. Once he completed his half century, he was in full flow, but playing second fiddle to Tendulkar.
Two consecutive boundaries from Tendulkar, Johnson revealed that he was picking the ball comfortably and was all set to destroy the bowlers. He executed two pull shots off Johnson to the boundary to announce that short pitched deliveries were not the remedy to dislodge their partnership.
Shane Watson too received the same treatment from Tendulkar. Reaching outside the off stump, he punched Watson over cover point. Next ball was cut to the point boundary.
Tendulkar raced to his 49th Test century in a flash. He reached 99, lifting Hauritz high over long on. A sixer over long on and Tendulkar reached his ton and equalled Sunil Gavaskar and Mohammad Azharuddin's record for the most centuries at this venue.
After Vijay’s exit, Test debutant Cheteshwar Pujara began promisingly executing a sparkling cover drive to the first ball he faced; but fell to the very next ball from Johnson. It was shooter that kept really low and was trapped leg before.
Suresh Raina joined Tendulkar who was showing no signs of tiring. Even in the third session of the day, Tendulkar was middling the ball brilliantly. Most of his shots were executed from the middle of his bat with immaculate timing and perfection.
India went past the 400 run mark in 111.5 overs to a thunderous ovation from the crowd. Raina and Tendulkar put on another 61 runs for the fifth wicket. Ponting introduced Michael Clark, and Raina stepping out to hit over long on landed up being caught by Hilfenhaus for 32.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni joined Tendulkar and played some fluid shots, promising another big partnership, which will be necessary to put Australia on the back foot.
India v Australia second test scoreboard
Australia first innings 478 (Marcus North 128, Ricky Ponting 77, Tim Paine 59, Shane Watson 57)
India first innings (Overnight 128-2)
M Vijay c Paine b Johnson 139
V Sehwag c Johnson b Hilfenhaus 30
R Dravid c North b Johnson 1
S Tendulkar not out 191
C Pujara lbw b Johnson 4
S Raina c Hilfenhaus b Clarke 32
M S Dhoni not out 11
Extras: (b-6, lb-15, w-6) 27
Total (five wickets; 122 overs) 435
To bat: H.Singh, Z.Khan, P.Ojha, S.Sreesanth.
Fall of wickets: 1-37 2-38 3-346 4-350 5-411.
Bowling: Hilfenhaus 25-5-61-1, Johnson 23-2-89-3, George 15-1-38-0, Hauritz 39-4-153-0, Clarke 8-0-27-1, Watson 7-0-28-0, Katich 5-0-18-0.
