Hussey ton holds up hosts

Hussey: Ninth Test ton

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First Test Match
Bangalore - Day Two
Australia 430 (M E K Hussey 146, R T Ponting 123, S M Katich 66, Z Khan 5-91, I Sharma 4-77) v India 68-0

India made a positive start in their reply to Australia's first-innings total of 430, reaching 68-0 by the close of play on day two of the first Test of the series.

Virender Sehwag was unbeaten on 43 with Gautam Gambhir at the other end on 20 not out when rain arrived to wipe out the closing overs in Bangalore.

The tourists had finally been bowled out in the final session, Michael Hussey the last man to go when he played on for 146, his highest Test score against India.

Zaheer haul

Zaheer Khan got the wicket of the left-hander to finish with figures of 5-91, claiming three wickets for one run to mop up the tail.

However it was his new-ball partner, Ishant Sharma, who had made sure the Australians didn't go too far beyond 500, picking up the first three wickets to fall.

The 20-year-old struck an early blow when he bowled Shane Watson for just two having had a loud lbw shout turned down against the same batsman just moments before.

Having resumed on 254-4, thanks mainly to the efforts of Ricky Ponting, who hit 123, on the opening day, it was left to Hussey to make sure his skipper's efforts didn't go to waste.

Happy to accumulate rather than go on the attack, the 33-year-old picked up runs with ease before going through to his hundred with a rare false shot - an inside edge that missed leg stump and went to the fine leg fence.

Excellent support

Brad Haddin (33) provided excellent support in a stand of 91 for the fifth wicket before he fell soon after lunch, Sharma's well disguised slower ball getting the wicketkeeper to chip to cover.

Debutant Cameron White managed just six before falling in similar fashion but Brett Lee contributed a useful 27 from number nine in the order.

With the game meandering along it was Zaheer who sparked it back into life after the break, ending Lee's stubborn resistance, and a partnership of 59, with a delivery that went between bat and pad and onto the stumps.

Mitchell Johnson was ninth man out and Hussey's innings ended soon after having hit 15 fours and a six. It was his ninth Test ton and second against India.