Aussies in control of test
MELBOURNE, Australia: Australia took a firm grip on the first test after Stuart Clark and Brett Lee produced a sustained period of hostile and controled pace bowling to bowl India out for 196 late on the second day yesterday.
Clark, who finished with an outstanding four for 28 off 15 overs, captured the valuable wickets of Sachin Tendulkar (62) and Rahul Dravid (four) as India struggled against the pace attack.
India were dismissed 147 runs behind Australia's first innings of 343.
Australia's openers Phil Jaques (10) and first-innings centurion Matthew Hayden (22) extended the lead to 179, reaching the close of play on 32 for no wicket.
Hayden was particularly aggressive, dispatching several bad deliveries from the Indians to the fence.
Short of a dramatic collapse, Australia look favorites to extend their successive test winning streak to 15 later in the week as the pitch deteriorates.
The current Australia side are chasing the world record set by Steve Waugh's side of 16 successive test victories, which was ended by India in 2001.
Clark struck at crucial times during India's innings.
Agencies
(China Daily 12/28/2007 page24)
