Matthew Hayden's belligerent 147 puts Australia in command
Santhosh S - 18 March 2001
Australia bounced back with a bang after their morale shattering
defeat in Kolkata, to take the honours on the first day of the third
and final Test match against hosts India at MA Chidambaram
Stadium, Chennai on Sunday. The toast of the day was Matthew
Hayden who bludgeoned the Indian bowling to make an unbeaten 147,
batting all through the day to put Australia in a commanding position
at 326/3.
Australian captain Steve Waugh remained unbeaten on 43 at close of
play. He surpassed the aggregate of Graham Gooch (8,900) when on 30
and now has an aggregate of 8,914 runs, the third highest in Test
match cricket behind the legends Allan Border (11,174) and Sunil
Gavaskar (10,122). Steve Waugh's twin brother Mark Waugh too passed a
personal milestone; he got to his 7000th Test run when on 46.
India made three changes to their side, wicket keeper Sameer Dighe and
leg spinner Sairaj Bahutule making their debut and Nilesh Kulkarni the
slow left arm spinner making a comeback into the side. Nayan Mongia
the regular wicket keeper had to sit out because of an injury.
Australia gave Colin Miller a chance to play, replacing Michael
Kasprowicz.
Earlier in the day Steve Waugh won a crucial toss and did not
hesitate to bat first. Michael Slater struck a four but it was all he
could score before being caught by VVS Laxman off the third ball of
the first over bowled by Zaheer Khan.
Harbhajan Singh who spun the Aussies to a devastating defeat in
Kolkata was brought on to bowl in the sixth over of the day. The
Aussies clearly had a game plan, to upset the rhythm of the bowler.
Hayden took the honourable task, stepping down the track and smashing
Harbhajan for sixes and fours. Justin Langer too was not to be left
behind as he lofted a ball from Harbhajan Singh over mid-wicket for a
glorious six.
In the meanwhile Hayden got a reprieve when he was on 21; Sameer Dighe
making his debut missed an easy opportunity to run Hayden out. It is
just another story that Hayden has made the Indians pay dearly for
that early miss. Langer made 35 off 35 balls before edging one from
Harbhajan Singh to Rahul Dravid at first slip.
Mark Waugh who has not had the best of series coming into the Chennai
Test, must have thanked his good fortune as Dighe missed an easy
stumping when he had made just nine. Dighe has had a nightmare of a
debut match, extending charity to the best professionals in the game
today.
Mark Waugh too was in attacking mood as he stepped out to loft
Kulkarni for a massive straight six. He looked to be in excellent
touch and heading for a big score He laced his elegant knock with
seven boundaries and a six to make 70 before mistiming a lofted on
drive off Bahatule; only to watch in agony as substitute
fielder Hemang Badani ran back and took a good catch at extra cover.
Mark Waugh and Hayden added 150 runs in their third wicket
partnership.
That was the last success of the day for the Indians. Steve Waugh too
made it clear that he intended to dominate the bowling, playing his
trademark heave-ho over mid-wicket for a huge six. Only the
introduction of Sachin Tendulkar in the final session of the day saw
the run rate slow down a little. Hayden and Steve Waugh have put
together an unbroken partnership of 109 for the fourth wicket.
Matthew Lawrence Hayden who plays for the Queensland Bulls, has had a
memorable tour so far, scoring a hundred in Mumbai and missing out on
a hundred in Kolkata by just three runs. Today he took the opportunity
to demolish the Indian attack as he smashed his way to an unbeaten 147
off 249 balls with the help of five mighty sixes and a dozen
boundaries.
What has been most heartening from an Australian point of view is the
temperament and technique of this big man, Hayden. All day along he
kept a cool head to negotiate the turn and bounce the Indian spinners
were getting off the pitch. He used his feet remarkably well to
smother the spin and on occasions to play the lofted shot. But it was
the sweep shot he played to such perfection that destroyed the Indian
spinners, who otherwise would have created a panic amongst the Aussie
batsmen.
© CricInfo
Teams
|
Australia,
India.
|
Players/Umpires
|
Matthew Hayden,
Steve Waugh,
Mark Waugh,
Graham Gooch,
Sunny Gavaskar,
Allan Border,
Sairaj Bahutule,
Sameer Dighe,
Nilesh Kulkarni,
Colin Miller,
Nayan Mongia,
Michael Kasprowicz,
Harbhajan Singh,
Zaheer Khan.
|
Tours
|
Australia in India
|
Scorecard
|
3rd Test: India v Australia, 18-22 Mar 2001 |
Grounds
|
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai
|