Veshma Bhimsingh

Mitchell Johnson rocks India’s top order Batsmen

After a four wicket haul from Mitchell Johnson, Harbhajan Singh led an Indian revival at the end of the first Test against Australia in Bangalore.

Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag all provided useful knocks of 51, 47 and 45n respectively. Harbhajan and Zaheer Khan lead a fightback for the eight wicket with a stand of 80, that ended just before stumps when the off-spinner edged a rising Shane Watson delivery to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

Johnson claimed the prized wickets of three top order batsmen with an outstanding spell of pace and swing. Brett Lee gave the Aussies a head start, when he had Gautam Ghambir trapped plumb in front. Then it was Johnson all the way as he dismissed Sehwag, when he slashed at a delivery and the outer edge flew straight to Matthew Hayden at first slip.

Both openers Sehwag and Ghambir failed to add significantly to their overnight score as Sehwag fell for 45 and Ghambir added only one run for 21.

India was in distress when Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman were dismissed in quick succession. Tendulkar, needing only 77 runs to better Brian Lara’s world record of the highest run getter in Test cricket, only managed 13 before he scooped a catch to Cameron White at short cover.

Laxman was Johnson’s third wicket, when the right hander edged Johnson to Haddin after facing 11 deliveries for no score. Ganguly, who is set to retire at the end of the series, battled on patiently before he was dismissed for 47. The left hander, and former India captain was Johnson’s fourth.

Article Tags: Order Batsmen

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