Cricket

Tea Australia 390 for 8 (Watson 126, Paine 75*, Ponting 71, Zaheer 4-83) v India
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Australia blunted India and then began to blossom under Tim Paine's guidance to reach a promising 390 for 8 at tea on the second day. Paine's maiden half-century - he was on 75 at the break - first stabilised his team before he lifted the pace in combination with Mitchell Johnson during a bright 82-run stand.

The gains came after Shane Watson's assured 126 set the platform while Zaheer Khan produced a fourth wicket to stop the tourists piling up a huge score. The total is difficult to judge and has taken five sessions to compile, but the Australians will be satisfied after some difficulties on both days. However, it is a target that India's batsmen could conquer by the end of tomorrow if they fire, although the lack of urgency from both sides appears to indicate everyone would be content with a draw.

Having crawled to 71 in the opening session, Australia relaxed through Paine and Johnson after lunch as they started to swing freely against the tiring spin duo of Harbhajan Singh and Pragyan Ojha. Johnson skipped to 47, striking three sixes, and provided a necessary surge to take Australia to safer ground.

Paine also increased his rate, lifting Ojha over midwicket for consecutive boundaries in his most attacking phase, and showed his comfort at this level in only his third Test. Dropped by MS Dhoni on 0 yesterday, Paine refused to submit to the various tensions and played the sort of settling innings the injured Brad Haddin could not have managed.

At times it was easy to wish for some Haddin extravagance, but Paine provided an old-fashioned display, just as Watson had done so purposefully. After two sessions, Paine had struck 10 boundaries from his 179 deliveries, showing his ability off both feet and impressing with his determination.

Johnson edged Zaheer's first ball after the middle drinks break to Dhoni, leaving Paine to continue to organise the tail efficiently. Nathan Hauritz gave Harbhajan his third, with help from a sharp take from Gautam Gambhir, and at tea Ben Hilfenhaus was unbeaten on 9.

After resuming at 224 for 5, the Australians crept forward in the morning with a couple of aims. They didn't want to expose the lower order too soon, especially with India's spinners operating, and they intended to keep the under-manned local attack in the field for as long as possible. They were successful on both counts.

In the first hour Watson and Paine scraped 25 as they followed the extra cautious method of the previous afternoon. The early stress eased for Paine after drinks in the morning when he glanced his first four off his 61st ball, gaining confidence from the unshackling. He drove and late cut Zaheer for another couple of boundaries and was soon comfortable in the humid conditions and on the turning surface.

It was hard work but the plan was effective for long periods as they frustrated the hosts, who expected a quick end to the innings following their late surge on day one. Watson was again unflustered as he showed more steel, moving to a personal best before his concentration finally broke. He pushed at a flighted offspinner from Harbhajan and popped it to Gambhir at short leg, ending his 338-ball resistance.

Zaheer Khan (4-83) continued to work with the old ball - the new one remained unused after 145 overs - but could not gain the reverse swing that hurt the tourists on the opening afternoon. Harbhajan and Ojha were the main threats but were overused - they had to be - due to the injury to Ishant Sharma.

They were both attacked in the second session but were always capable of providing a scare. Harbhajan returned 3 for 114 from 49 overs while Ojha went at a touch over two runs from each of his 50 overs, despite receiving some punishment from Paine and Johnson.

There was some other good news for India with Ishant back on the field following a knee problem on the first day. He was given the ball late in the second session and delivered a couple of overs.