MS Dhoni, R Ashwin, Virat Kohli and Tendulkar were the pivotal
contributors to India's 1-0 series lead, showing greater discipline and
awareness of the sort of cricket best played on the MA Chidambaram
Stadium's clay court. Save for Michael Clarke's first-day century and
James Pattinson's fiery pace, it was not until Moises Henriques stood up
with the bat in the second innings that the tourists showed evidence of
catching up.
A target of only 50 to win was reached with the help of some Tendulkar
fireworks - towering sixes from his first two deliveries against Nathan
Lyon - but Pattinson again bowled well to the openers and Lyon showed
far greater consistency of line and control of length than he had
managed while being taken for 3 for 215 in the first innings.
India were left with some questions about their opening pair, M Vijay
and Virender Sehwag doing little in either innings, and they may also
wonder about subtracting another seam bowler from their XI should the
Hyderabad surface be anything like this one. Australia have found a
steady batting hand in Henriques, but much of their display in this
match will be the cause of serious introspection.
Henriques and Lyon had put on 66 for Australia's last wicket, a defiant
gesture after the earlier batsmen had failed to stand their ground.
Henriques' unbeaten innings completed a fine double for the debutant,
who has surely made his place safe for the second Test.
Ultimately it was Ravindra Jadeja who ended the stand after 25 minutes
on the final morning, switching from over to around the wicket against
Lyon and coaxing an inside edge onto pad that was snapped up by short
leg.
Pattinson's first ball of the innings was a snorter, pitched short and
seaming back sharply at Vijay, though it angled away from Matthew Wade
and flew away for four byes. The ball kept Vijay thinking, and after
depositing Lyon for one straight six, he fell when an indecisive drive
was well taken by Henriques at a shortish mid-off.
In the next over Cheteshwar Pujara offered a sharp chance when padding
up to Lyon, the ball striking pad and glove but eluding Wade, who was
unable to adjust to the ball's shifting trajectory. Sehwag sliced a
brace of boundaries over the slips cordon from Pattinson, and when Peter
Siddle replaced him he drove sweetly down the ground.
Lyon, meanwhile, showed some evidence of improvement in his bowling. He
twirled down far fewer deliveries that could be tucked around the corner
behind square leg, and the better line forced some impatient
premeditated strokes from Pujara. It also undid Sehwag when he snicked
to Clarke at slip. This little joust was ultimately immaterial to the
result, sealed as it was by Tendulkar's sixes, but demonstrated that
Lyon was learning.
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