BANGALORE, Oct 10 (PTI): India started off shakily but Sachin Tendulkar scaled a new peak crossing 14,000 runs in Test cricket and steadied the hosts� innings against a massive Australian score of 478, at stumps, on the second day, of the second and final Test match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium here today.
Courtesy an unbroken 90-run third wicket stand between Tendulkar (44 batting, 88 balls, 6x4)and opener Murali Vijay (42 batting, 83 balls, 4x4, 1x6), India were 128 for two when play was stopped after 34.2 overs.
Tendulkar�s feat was watched by a packed Chinnaswamy stadium crowd and the maestro got a standing ovation from all present in the stadium. Australian captain, Ricky Ponting is remains Tendulkar�s nearest rival but the Aussie is still behind by 1822 runs.
Ponting, was one of the first among the opposition players to come up and congratulate Tendulkar for his achievement.
Today, Tendulkar also became the highest run getter among batsmen who played Test matches at Chinnaswamy Stadium scoring in excess of 600 runs thus eclipsing Sunil Gavaskar�s total.
Compared to both Virender Sehwag and Rahul David, Tendulkar was more composed and not perturbed but went about his job in his inimitable style.
Tendulkar reached the milestone, when he punched off-spinner Nathan Hauritz through the cover point region. He looked in good touch throughout his innings today.
Opener Sehwag, a prolific batsmen aggressive methods of counter attack did not work to his advantage and Dravid was done in by left arm pacer Johnson. Dravid has been dismissed six times by left-arm bowlers during the past season.
The start for the Indian reply to Australia�s huge first innings total of 478 was shaky as Sehwag survived two run-out chances. Ponting, had set plans to tackle and restrain the swashbuckling Sehwag, who has scores of 50 plus in his last 11 Test matches.
But, the new ball bowlers, Hilfenhaus and Johnson were irritating him with bouncers and time and again, Sehwag had to duck himself avoiding a hit by the ball.
Sehwag was in punishing mood and with his partner Vijay attempted cheeky singles often to put the Australians in disarray but survived the risk of getting run out.
On both the occasions, it was Vijay who should be blamed for making wrong calls.
Noticing that Sehwag was time and again eyeing on the mid-wicket region, Ponting brought in two fielders on the deep and long and both the new ball bowlers responded to captain�s decision.
On one occasion, Sehwag, who was hit on his helmet by a Hilfenhaus delivery tried to pull one only to be holed out in deep by Johnson. Sehwag hit four boundaries and a delectable six in his 30 from 28 balls.
With Dravid walking in and egged on by vociferous crowd, the local hero did not stay for long. He was middling the ball well but was tentative against Johnson and finally fell chasing an outside the off stump delivery and edged to Marcus North at the slips.
Earlier, Australia posted their highest ever total of 478 at the Chinnaswamy stadium surpassing the earlier best of 474 in 2004.
Indian bowlers, especially the spinners toiled for about 55 overs since morning today to claim five wickets after the visitors made 285 for 5 overnight.
Pragyan Ojha and Harbhajan claimed couple of wickets, while Cheteshwar Pujara accounted for a run out.
Harbhajan had the best figures of four for 148 and Ojha had three for 120.
Zaheer Khan and Suresh Raina claimed a wicket each. During the post lunch session, Marcus North (128) was more aggressive and seen stepping out to play his shots.
SCOREARD
Australia 1st innings 478 (overnight 285/5): Watson c Dhoni b Ojha 57, Katich c Dravid b Singh 43, Ponting lbw Raina 77, Clarke c Raina b Singh 14, Hussey c Sehwag b Khan 34, North c Sreesanth b Singh 128, Paine st Dhoni b Ojha 59, Johnson lbw Ojha 0, Hauritz run out 17, Hilfenhaus not out 16, George st Dhoni b Singh 2. Extras: (b-9, lb-12, w-1, nb-9) 31. Total: (all out in 141 overs) 478. Fall of wickets: 1-99, 2-113, 3-132, 4-198, 5-256, 6-405, 7-415, 8-458, 9-459. Bowling: Khan 23-5-84-1, Sreesanth 21-1-79-0, Ojha 42-7-120-3, Singh 43-3-148-4, Sehwag 4-1-7-0, Raina 8-1-19-1.
India 1st innings: Vijay batting 42, Sehwag c Johnson b Hilfenhaus 30, Dravid c North b Johnson 1, Tendulkar batting 44. Extras: (b-4, lb-2, w-5) 11. Total: (for two wickets in 34.2 overs) 128. Fall of wickets: 1-37, 2-38. Bowling: Hilfenhaus 9-2-18-1, Johnson 7-2-30-1, George 5-1-18-0, Hauritz 11.2-0-45, Clarke 2-0-11-0.
