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| December 21, 2003 | Sunday | Shawwal 26, 1424 |
Paceman Nicholson boosts Test hopes
HOBART, Dec 20: Sidelined paceman Matthew Nicholson bowled his way towards a possible Test recall with four for 25 to help dismiss India for 245 in their tour match against Australia ‘A’ on Saturday.
India resumed on their overnight score of 37 for one in reply to Australia ‘A’s 311 for five declared.
Australia ‘A’ were 57 for three at the close of the second day’s play of the three-day match, an overall lead of 123.
Test hopefuls Michael Clarke, on 22, and Brad Hodge, on 11, were the not out batsmen.
Australia’s leading pacemen Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie will miss the third Test against India starting in Melbourne because of injuries while New South Wales fast bowler Brett Lee is expected to return to the side after overcoming ankle and stomach complaints.
However, doubts over the fitness of Brad Williams after he fell heavily on his shoulder during the second Test mean Nicholson is suddenly a contender to win a place in the national side.
Nicholson, who played his only Test in December 1998 against England in Melbourne, took the key wicket of India captain Saurav Ganguly for five.
India’s Test wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel, 18, made a defiant 49 to help the tourists add 83 for the last three wickets after Nicholson had cut through India’s middle order at 162 for seven.
Opener Akish Chopra, who scored 46, was the only batsman in the top six to reach 40 as the side clearly missed second test century makers Vangipurappu Laxman and Rahul Dravid, who were rested.
Sachin Tendulkar, who has made just 38 runs in three innings in the opening two Tests of the four-match series against Australia, reached 36 on Saturday before he was caught in the deep by Paul Rofe after hooking a ball from Damien Wright.
Scoreboard
AUSTRALIA ‘A’ (1st Innings) 311-5 declared (M.L. Love 94).
INDIA (1st Innings, overnight 37-1):
A. Chopra run out 46
S. Ramesh c Wright b Nicholson 4
D. Dasgupta lbw b Tait 21
S.R. Tendulkar c Rofe b Wright 36
V. Sehwag c Seccombe b Tait 30
S.C. Ganguly c Hussey b Nicholson 5
P.A. Patel c Love b Nicholson 49
L. Balaji lbw b Tait 8
M. Kartik run out 26
I.K. Pathan c Wright b Nicholson 11
A. Nehra not out 0
EXTRAS (LB-4, NB-5) 9
TOTAL (all out, 82.5 overs) 245
FALL OF WKTS: 1-5, 2-51, 3-104, 4-139, 5-149, 6-150, 7-162, 8-233, 9-233.
BOWLING: Nicholson 21.5-13-25-4; Wright 16-9-33-1; White 13-1-60-0; Tait 20-2-85-3 (5nb); Rofe 12-2-38-0.
AUSTRALIA ‘A’ (2nd Innings):
C. Rogers c Chopra b Balaji 2
M.E.K. Hussey c Tendulkar b Pathan 7
M.L. Love b Balaji 11
B.J. Hodge not out 11
M.J. Clarke not out 22
EXTRAS (LB-2, NB-2) 4
TOTAL (for three wkts, 18 overs) 57
FALL OF WKTS: 1-5, 2-9, 3-28.
BOWLING (to-date): Irfan Pathan 8-1-18-1; Balaji 9-2-34-2 (2nb); Kartik 1-0-3-0.—Reuters
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