Zaheer, Ashwin restrict Australia to 333 in first innings

27 December,2011 11:23 AM IST |   |  IANS

India's pace spearhead Zaheer Khan and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took two wickets each on the morning of the second day to bowl out Australia for 333 in the first innings


India's pace spearhead Zaheer Khan and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took two wickets each on the morning of the second day to bowl out Australia for 333 in the first innings shortly before the lunch break in the first Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) here Tuesday.

At lunch, India were six for no loss with Virender Shewag batting on four and Gautam Gambhir two.

Australia, resuming at overnight 277/6, survived just 21 overs during which they added 56 runs and achieved a par total at the MCG. Zaheer finished with figures of four for 77 while Umesh Yadav and Ravichandran Ashwin bagged three wickets each.

Zaheer struck in the second over of the day to remove overnight batsman Brad Haddin (27). The Australian wicket-keeper stretched out for a fading ball and edged to Sehwag at gully.

He walked from the pitch but had to wait several minutes on the field as the third umpire reviewed whether the bowler had bowled a no-ball.

Peter Siddle also departed soon after he was squared up by a late shaping out-swinger from Zaheer and edged behind for 41.

Ben Hilfenhaus (19) and James Pattinson (18 not out) added valuable 27 runs for the ninth wicket. Hilfenhaus was eventually out caught in the deep after he attempted to hit Ashwin out of the ground and Nathan Lyon (6) misjudged a sweep and was bowled behind his leg by a straight ball by the off-spinner.

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Zaheer Khan Ravichandran Ashwin Melbourne Cricket Ground test match