Mohali Test delicately poised

MOHALI: After Zaheer Khan's 10th five-wicket (5/94) haul helped the hosts end a staunch Australian resistance in the final session, India, chasing 428, retaliated in whirlwind fashion.
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However, Mitchell Johnson's double strike brought the visitors back into the game as India ended Day 2 in the first Test at the PCA Stadium on 110/2 with Rahul Dravid (batting on 21; 28b, 4x4) and nightwatchman Ishant Sharma at the crease.
Virender Sehwag (59; 54b, 10x4) batted in his usual rapid manner but failed to convert an aggressive start into a big score when he tried to work Mitchell Johnson to the on-side but only managed a leading edge. Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir (25; 42b, 2x4) looked compact as the duo put on 83 runs in just 13.2 overs before Johnson nailed the southpaw with a fast delivery. Sehwag brought up his half-century off just 38 balls to complete 1,500 Test runs against Australia.
Earlier, Shane Watson and Tim Paine tickled forward at a sluggish rate as bowlers pressed hard for their first wicket in the morning. Harbhajan Singh finally broke the 53-run stand for the sixth wicket in the 22nd over when Gautam Gambhir lunged forward to take a superb catch at short-leg.
The dismissal, though, came only after Watson (126; 338b, 10x4) had bettered his previous best Test score of 120. Johnson and Paine stitched a fruitful 82-run partnership for the seventh wicket before Zaheer was rightfully rewarded. The seamer forced an edge off Johnson (47; 56b, 6x4, 3x6) with a well-directed delivery to Dhoni behind stumps.
Running out of partners, Paine changed gear and lofted Pragyan Ojha for successive boundaries before Harbhajan dismissed Nathan Hauritz, with Gambhir holding on to a superb reflex catch at forward short-leg. Zaheer struck soon when he angled one across Paine (92; 196 balls, 12x4) which took the edge.