The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Siddle's second fifty sets 154: listen live on Roar Radio

Nathan Lyon is stoked he's in the one day squad (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)
24th March, 2013
28

Peter Siddle counterattacked with his second consecutive half-century, after Ravindra Jadeja completed his maiden five-wicket haul to fire out Australia for a lead of 154.

It will be up to Australia to produce an extraordinary finish with the ball to deny India a clean sweep.

Contrary to his defensive 51 in the first innings, Siddle attacked the Indian spinners with a series of lofted drives over mid off to finish with an even 50 from 44 balls.

It was the first time in the history of Test cricket that a No. 9 batsman had top-scored in both innings, testament both to Siddle’s determination and fine play, and the lamentable standard of his top order teammates.

Jadeja had earlier run through the top order as the Aussies and the pitch crumbled in Delhi.

Australia’s decision to promote Glenn Maxwell to opener (yes, really) backfired, with he and David Warner dismissed within seven overs.

Shane Watson’s first Test as captain saw the decision to promote Maxwell in favour of Ed Cowan, who nonetheless was soon out on the pitch at No. 3 as Maxwell missed a straight ball from Jadeja to be bowled.

The next over, Warner stepped back on his stumps and missed a flip across the line to be plumb lbw to the same bowler, seeing Phil Hughes come to the crease at No. 4.

Advertisement

Hughes was given another terrible lbw call in favour of Ravi Ashwin, Shane Watson played a worse shot to be bowled by Pragyan Ohja, and Jadeja picked up Cowan, Smith and Johnson. Cowan’s 24 was the second best score.

Australia earlier closed out the Indian innings for just 272, after Nathan Lyon produced the performance of his career in the fourth Test in Delhi.

The oft-criticised Australian spinner took 5/94 from 22 overs yesterday, an exceptional day’s work that accounted for Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, debutant Ajinkya Rahane, and Ravichandran Ashwin.

Along with wickets to James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, and Glenn Maxwell, a combative Australian side reduced India to 8/268 at stumps, with Ashwin dramatically falling from the last ball of the day.

It was a lead of just six. Lyon returned again to make short work of India’s tail today, bowling Ishant Sharma for 0 and then trapping Pragyan Ohja first ball. The off spinner will be on a hat-trick when he comes on in India’s second innings.

India’s first innings lead was just 10 runs over Australia, meaning an improved reply from Australia could see them threaten for a win for the time on this tour.

You can listen to the call with us live on Roar Radio via the player below, and leave us any comments here on this page, or via Twitter at @Roarlive.

Advertisement
close