BRISBANE, 8 December 2003 — Saurav Ganguly scored his first Test hundred against Australia yesterday to give India a narrow first-innings lead on the fourth day of the opening Test.
The Indian captain made a stylish 144 to help the tourists amass 362 for six in reply to Australia’s 323 when bad light stopped play early. Although a draw is almost certain after the first three days were cut short by rain, India received a psychological boost from their performance.
They had slumped to 62 for three before lunch after losing three wickets for a single run, including Sachin Tendulkar for a duck in controversial circumstances.
Vangipurappu Laxman, the central figure in India’s last series win over Australia two years ago, chipped in with 75 during a 146-run partnership with his skipper while openers Virender Sehwag (45) and Akash Chopra (36) and wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel (37 not out) also scored freely. Jason Gillespie was the pick of the bowlers, capturing three for 45 off 25 overs, while leg spinner Stuart MacGill grabbed the wickets of Ganguly and Laxman to help sustain an Australian attack badly weakened by the absence of Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Brett Lee.
India’s hopes of leading on the first innings had seemed remote when they lost opener Sehwag, vice-captain Rahul Dravid and Tendulkar in the space of 23 balls.
But Ganguly took the initiative with his third highest Test score and his best against Australia, who had planned to target him during the series after a poor run of form.
The left-hander shared a 65-run stand with Chopra, then savaged the Australian bowlers in the afternoon after being joined by Laxman.
Ganguly brought up his 11th Test hundred in three and a quarter hours off 135 balls and struck 18 boundaries before he departed after driving MacGill to Gillespie at mid-on.
Laxman, whose 281 turned the last series India’s way, was also in an aggressive mood, hitting 11 fours. He raced to his half-century off 73 deliveries and looked to be on his way to triple figures when he played a loose cut shot to Simon Katich at backward point.
Tendulkar, the victim of three debatable decisions when India toured Australia four years ago, looked unlucky again.
He was given out leg before wicket by West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor without scoring after leaving a delivery from Gillespie.
The fast bowler offered a half-hearted appeal but quickly gave up and was walking back to his mark when Bucknor raised his finger.
