India lost four wickets in the final session to undo much of their earlier good work with the bat on the first day of the third Test against Australia at the WACA here Wednesday. After Indian captain Anil Kumble won the toss and elected to bat, the tourists were 297 for six at stumps, with Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Irfan Pathan both undefeated on eight.
India started the day's final session in a commanding position at 177 for two, with star batsmen Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar in fine touch. However, Tendulkar (71) was the victim of another poor umpiring decision, while Dravid (93) and VVS Laxman (26) threw their wickets away with poor shots to allow the home side back into the match. Australian fast bowler Brett Lee said the late wickets of Dravid and Laxman had given the home side a much-needed boost.
Dravid said the Indians still had the chance to make 400, which was their aim. India were in control until umpire Asad Rauf adjudged Tendulkar LBW to Lee, who was the pick of the Australian bowlers with 3-64, despite the fact the ball appeared to be passing over the top of the stumps.
Dravid holed out to the innocuous off-spin of Andrew Symonds late in the day, and just six runs later Laxman fell to a similarly injudicious shot from the bowling of Lee, as India slipped to 284 for six.
It was a disappointing end to the day for the Indians, after Tendulkar and Dravid added 139 runs for the third wicket to steady their side after the loss of two quick wickets before lunch. Back in his preferred position at number three, Dravid capitalised on an early let-off.
Dravid showed he was steadily regaining his best form with some glorious cover drives and a century beckoned until he suffered a lapse in concentration and scooped Symonds straight to Ricky Ponting at mid-off. The reckless shot was totally at odds with his otherwise measured approach in 276 minutes at the crease, facing 183 balls and hitting 15 fours.
Despite surviving a couple of confident LBW appeals, Tendulkar rarely looked troubled by the bowlers and twice simply glided short deliveries over the slips for four, including for his half-century.
The only Indian to have played Test cricket at the WACA, he was at the crease for 175 minutes, facing 128 balls and hitting nine boundaries. The match follows a controversial week in the wake of the contentious second Test in Sydney, with claims of racial abuse, poor sportsmanship and substandard umpiring. The Australians won the second Test by 122 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series and victory here would mean a world record 17th consecutive Test win.
INDIA FIRST INNINGS:
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W. Jaffer c Gilchrist b Lee 16
V. Sehwag c Gilchrist b Johnson 29
R. Dravid c Ponting b Symonds 93
S. Tendulkar lbw Lee 71
S. Ganguly c Hussey b Johnson 9
VVS. Laxman c Tait b Lee 27
MS. Dhoni not out 8
I. Pathan not out 8
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Extras: (18lb, 9w, 9nb) 36
Total: (for six wickets) 297
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