Hayden scores century, India fights back

MELBOURNE, Australia: Australia opener Matthew Hayden scored his 28th test century, while India captain Anil Kumble took five wickets to leave the first test evenly poised after the first day's play yesterday.

Hayden, who shared a 135-run opening partnership with Phil Jaques, was dismissed for 124 as the home side reached stumps on 337 for nine with Mitchell Johnson on 10 and Stuart Clark on 21.

Kumble finished with five for 84, while left-arm pace bowler Zaheer Khan grabbed three wickets including captain Ricky Ponting and Hayden.

Kumble would be pleased with his side's efforts of refusing to succumb to Australian pressure by capturing wickets at crucial times after breaking the opening stand.

Australia made a tentative start after winning the toss and choosing to bat on a pitch that had signs of grass and moisture in the outfield, before Hayden and Jaques guided them through to lunch at 111 for no wicket.

However, after Kumble managed to draw Jaques down the wicket by a topspinner that was neatly taken by wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni, who whipped the bails off to dismiss him for 66, the home side's momentum stalled.

Ponting was bowled by Zaheer for four with a delivery that seamed away to knock over off stump before Mike Hussey was trapped in front by Kumble off another delivery that failed to spin, for two, leaving the home side at 165 for three.

Hayden, who reached his century with a cover drive off Rudra Pratap Singh for his eighth boundary, consolidated the innings with Michael Clarke before they both fell in quick succession.

Clarke was well caught by Vangipurappu Laxman at second slip for 20 chasing a full, wide delivery from RP Singh, before Hayden spooned a catch to Saurav Ganguly at mid-on shortly after.

Symonds, who had ominously moved to 35 off 42 balls, was then caught by substitute fielder Dinesh Karthik to give Kumble his third wicket.

The Indian captain then had Adam Gilchrsit mistiming a sweep to be caught by Sachin Tendulkar for 23, then trapped Lee in front for a duck to give him his 35th five-wicket haul in tests.

Agencies

(China Daily 12/27/2007 page24)