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Mon, 10th Nov 2008  Nagpur: Mahendra Singh Dhoni had predicted at end of the game on the penultimate day that the fast bowlers would play a vital role in the final day. Ishant Sharma was on the spotlight with the ball as Australia lost three wickets, but not before collecting 111 runs at an average of over four per over in the first session of the final day of the fourth and final Test here on Monday.
Matthew Hayden (46 not out) and Michael Hussey (14 not out) were at the crease with the Australian opener looking to sign off the series with a big one, and was helped to an extent when Rahul Dravid grassed his second catch of the game.
Australia had made their intentions clear on the fourth day itself as only a win in the match would help them retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophym, with the odds of an Indian win or a draw completely out of question. But India began the fifth and final day with a sweeper to not give away boundaries. If Australia had to chase down 382, boundaries would make a large part of their scoring.
The first two wickets were a result of getting too much too soon. Simon Katich fell in this bid when he fetched an Ishant Sharma delivery from way outside off to hoock it over leg, but only managed to edge it on to the wicketkeeper for 16. Ricky Ponting, on the other hand, was eager to get off strike; his run-out, effected by a diving Amit Mishra at mid-on, repeated the same mistake made by Hayden in the first innings.
Michael Clarke walked out in the middle with a runner due to general illness, but his foot movement remained up to scratch. But after three sumptuous hits to the fence, Ishant Sharma had him caught behind with another peach.
Only 21.3 overs had been bowled during the first session, which might prompt an extended spells from the spinners. Might well work in India's favour, with the rough on either side of the stumps rather distinct.  | 
