SPORT AUS INNINGS 2

Electing to bat first on a perfect batting track at the Rajiv Gandhi
Stadium after Ponting had won the toss for the fourth time in five ties, the
right-left duo of Watson and Marsh put on the first century stand in the
series on either side to lay a strong foundation. The Indian spinners,
particularly Harbhajan Singh, applied the skids on the tourists' runaway
start, to keep Australia well under check by denying them boundaries for 80
balls in the middle overs. After Watson was dismissed by Harbhajan,
easily the best Indian bowler on view, Marsh and Ponting put Australia right
on top with their second wicket stand marked by good running between the
wickets. Australia took the batting Power Play between the 35th and
39th overs immediately when the mandatory ball change was effected with the
score reading 192 for one. Australia added 44 runs in this period, seeing
off Harbhajan too in this phase, but also lost Ponting who was bowled by
Praveen Kumar. The Indian bowlers had a total off day barring
Harbhajan whose two spells cost 28 runs in eight overs and 16 in his last
two for the wicket of Watson. Nehra and Praveen Kumar were just not in their
elements and were punished mercilessly by the batsmen. Munaf, in his
first match, was equally unimpressive and left-arm slow bowler Ravindra
Jadeja was hammered for 44 runs in five overs. MORE PTI