Melbourne, Dec 27: Half-centuries from Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid took India to 214 for three at stumps on Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test against Australia. This after a four-wicket haul from Zaheer Khan helped finished the hosts’ first innings for a modest 333.

The day began with India allowing the Australians only 56 more runs for their last four wickets. Zaheer Khan got rid of Brad Haddin (27) and Peter Siddle (41) within the first 40 minutes of the day’s play, while R Ashwin wrapped up the tail with the wickets of Ben Hilfenhaus (19) and Nathan Lyon (6). Zaheer was the pick of the Indian bowlers with figures of four for 77.

The Indian innings began with Gautam Gambhir (3) edging Ben Hilfenhaus to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin in the eighth over. India were 22 for one at the fall of Gambhir’s wicket.

Virender Sehwag, however, remained unaffected by Gambhir’s departure and attacked the Aussie bowlers with characteristic disdain. The opener played a couple of beautiful drives on the offside before hitting offspinner Nathan Lyon on the up for consecutive boundaries straight down the ground in the 20th over of the innings. Sehwag reached his half-century off just 59 balls.

James Pattinson then provided the breakthrough by bowling Sehwag during a terrific spell shortly before tea. Having beaten Sehwag and Rahul Dravid on a couple of occasions, Pattinson enticed the Indian opener with another fullish delivery. Sehwag (67), looking to blast the ball through the covers, only managed to drag the ball back on to his stumps. India went in to tea at 99 for two after Sachin Tendulkar survived a couple of anxious moments against part-timer Michael Hussey’s bowling.

Dravid and Sachin came out after tea taking full advantage of some indifferent Aussie bowling. Tendulkar played a superb uppercut off the very first ball of the third session bowled by Siddle; the ball went over the hapless slip cordon for six. It was a shot he played regularly through the course of his 117-run partnership with Dravid; Ben Hilfenhuas and Siddle were reduced to mere bystanders every time they pitched the ball short outside the master’s off-stump.

Where Tendulkar looked in superb nick with flowing drives and elegant cuts, Dravid’s innings was more attritional. The No. 3 batsman played and missed on quite a few occasions and even survived being bowled by Siddle in the 59th over of the innings; Siddle lost out on a well-deserved wicket when TV replays proved he had bowled a no-ball. Dravid managed to get past the half-century mark off 137 balls. Dravid’s effort was emulated by Tendulkar immediately afterwards; this was Tendulkar’s third half-century at the MCG.

Australia had something to cheer about just before the end of day as Siddle finally managed to get past Tendulkar’s (73) defence and rattle his stumps. Ishant Sharma (0), sent in as the nightwatchman, managed to fend off the last few deliveries of the day as India left the field at 214 for three at the end of 65 overs.

Brief scores:

At end of Day 2: Australia 1st innings 333 all out in 110 overs (Ed Cowan 68, Zaheer Khan 4/77); India 1st innings 214/3 in 65.0 overs (Sachin Tendulkar 73, Rahul Dravid 68*, Virender Sehwag 67, James Pattinson 1/35)

At end of Day 1: Australia 1st innings 277/6 in 89.0 overs (Ed Cowan 68, Ricky Ponting 62, Umesh Yadav 3/96, Zaheer Khan 2/49)