Australian captain Michael Clarke scored 130 as the Aussies were finally all-out for 380 on day two in Chennai.
Skipper Clarke didn’t manage to add much more to the 103 he took into day two of the first Test against India. The Australian number five had helped drag his side away from an embarrassing total on day one in Chennai, but could only add 27 more runs on the second morning.
Clarke was the first wicket of the day, caught at long-off from the bowling of Ravindra Jadeja. His dismissal meant India then only had the bowlers to get and despite Peter Siddle’s resilience, Australia could only add 19 more runs once their captain was out.
Harbhajan Singh finally got a wicket on his 100th Test for India, Siddle edging his ball to Virender Sehwag.
Siddle scored a respectable 19, but it didn’t take long for the Indian spinners to finish off the Aussies. James Pattinson fired his way to 15 not-out, but number 11 Nathan Lyon couldn’t cope with the Indian onslaught and he was dismissed for three runs off the bowling of Ravichandran Ashwin.
Ashwin was the most successful of the Indian bowlers finishing with figures of 7-103. India’s tactic of leading with a spin-heavy attack appeared to have worked as all 10 wickets went to spinners.
In reply Pattinson made short work of Indian openers Vijay and Sehwag, as the hosts were reduced to 12-2 at one stage.
The experience of Sachin Tendulkar shone through as he and Cheteshwar Pujara put on 93 runs before Pattinson also claimed the wicket of Pujara.
India finished the day 182-3 as Tendulkar and Virat Kohli both made half centuries before stumps. With neither team taking the advantage there is all to play for on day three.
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