Cricket

Shane Watson's resistance finally ended on 126

Australia lost Shane Watson but their unhurried approach continued to slow down India as they went to lunch at 295 for 6 on the second day. Watson departed for an invaluable 126 to leave the wicketkeeper Tim Paine (36) in charge of organising the tail in increasingly testing conditions.

After resuming at 224 for 5, the Australians crawled ahead 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. In the first hour Watson and Paine scraped 25 runs as they followed the extra cautious method of the previous afternoon, and only 71 came in the session.

It was hard work but reasonably 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 Singh and popped it to short leg, ending his 338-ball resistance.

The breakthrough re-energised the hosts and Harbhajan had a strong appeal for a close-in catch turned down off Paine, but the Australians survived till the break. There was some other good news for India with Ishant Sharma back on the field following a knee problem on the first day, although he did not bowl.

Zaheer Khan (3-65) continued to work with the old ball - the new one remained unused after 119 overs - but could not gain the severe swing that hurt the tourists on the opening afternoon, and Harbhajan and Pragyan Ojha were the main threat. Harbhajan had 2 for 96 off 40 overs while Ojha was giving away less than 1.5 an over, even though Watson and Paine took one of them for nine runs.

The stress eased for the cautious Paine after drinks when he glanced his first four from his 61st ball, gaining confidence from the unshackling. He drove and late cut Zaheer for another couple of boundaries and seemed comfortable in the humid conditions and on the turning surface. Mitchell Johnson rarely defends for long and lifted Virender Sehwag for six to long-on as he went to the break on 9.