Australia on course for massive win
Australia are on course for a huge win over India in the second Test in Sydney after captain Michael Clarke hit an unbeaten 329 to guide his side to 659/4 in their first innings.
Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey also hit centuries as the hosts recovered from 37/3 to declare on 659, 468 runs ahead of MS Dhoni’s side. The tourists were then asked to bat out the final 41 overs of the day and concluded on 114/2, still some 354 runs short of Australia’s first innings score.
Clarke declared only four runs short of Mark Taylor’s score of 333, the highest by any Australian captain. But when questioned on the subject he insisted that it was the team’s best interests that he had in mind, rather than any personal millstones.
“I spoke to Huss just before we declared and I really wanted him to make 150 - he deserved that,” said Clarke.
“Once he got that, and once we had a 450-run lead, I thought it's a good time to pull up stumps and try and get a couple of wickets tonight.”
The decision looks to have been a correct one and Boyle Sports (Go to Boyle Sports ») now make Australia 1/5 to take a 2-0 lead in the series. India are 7/2 to salvage the draw and 100/1 to turn the contest on its head and win the match.
A sub-plot to the match is Sachin Tendulkar’s quest to make that elusive 100th first class century. The Little Master will resume day 4 on 8 and Bet365 (Go to Bet365 ») offer odds of 12/5 that he makes a ton.
Written By:- Chris (About our
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Posted on:- 05/01/2012 - 16:34 PM
Filed in:- Cricket Betting News