Cricket: Tendulkar tamed by wizardry of Warne

Australia 441 & 71-2 India 285

SHANE WARNE took the initial honours when he renewed his duel with Sachin Tendulkar here yesterday, as he put Australia in command of the first Test against India.

The wily leg-spinner dispatched Tendulkar (61) as he took 4 for 92 as India were all out for 285 in reply to Australia's first innings of 441. Australia were 71 for 2 in their second innings at the close on the third day, leading overall by 227.

Greg Blewett was unbeaten on 26 with Mark Waugh yet to score after Michael Slater (0) and Justin Langer (38) fell to Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble respectively. Slater was out in the third over when he edged to slip, and Langer popped a catch to Devang Gandhi at bat-pad with the total 65.

India, resuming the day at 123 for 4, looked set for a big total as Tendulkar and Ganguly put on 108 for the fifth wicket. They seemed to be in complete control on the flat pitch until Warne snared Tendulkar with a looping delivery that Langer caught at bat-pad.

Warne then had Ganguly (60) stumped as he attempted to drive a ball that kept low as he danced down the pitch. Warne, operating into a stiff breeze, then bowled Mannava Prasad around his legs with a wonderful delivery that spun sharply. He is now eight wickets behind Dennis Lillee's Australian Test record of 355.

Warne said he was thrilled by his efforts because of the way he has struggled against India in the past, claiming just 11 wickets at more than 69 apiece. He had been severely punished by Tendulkar when the sides met in India last year. "As a spinner, if you take wickets against these blokes you know you are bowling really well," he said. "I think this was probably the best I have bowled since my shoulder operation."

Warne said the ball he got Prasad with was one of the best of his career. "It was a ripper. To be able to drift the ball like I did and spin it that far on a third day wicket. I was very, very pleased with that one, it would probably be in my top dozen."

Third day of five; Australia won toss

Australia - First Innings 441 (S R Waugh 150, R T Ponting 125, S K Warne 86).

India - First Innings

(Overnight: 123 for 4)

*S R Tendulkar c Langer b Warne 61

S C Ganguly st Gilchrist b Warne 60

+M S K Prasad b Warne 14

A B Agarkar b Fleming 19

J Srinath c S Waugh b Fleming 11

A Kumble not out 17

B K V Prasad lbw b Fleming 0

Extras (1lb, 1w, 19nb) 21

Total (all out, 113.4 overs) 285

Fall (cont): 5-215, 6-229, 7-240, 8-266, 9-275.

Bowling: McGrath 30-13-49-2; Fleming 24.4-7-70-3; Kasprowicz 11-2-62- 0; Warne 42-12-92-4; Blewett 6-1-11-0.

Australia - Second Innings

M J Slater c Ganguly b Srinath 0

G S Blewett not out 26

J L Langer c Gandhi b Kumble 38

M E Waugh not out 0

Extras (3b, 3lb, 1nb) 7

Total (for 2, 28 overs) 71

Fall: 1-1, 2-65.

To bat: *S R Waugh, R T Ponting, A C Gilchrist, S K Warne, D W Fleming, M S Kasprowicz, G D McGrath.

Bowling: Srinath 8-1-23-1; Agarkar 5-2-11-0; V Prasad 7-2-14-0; Kumble 8-3-17-1.

Umpires: D J Harper and R S Dunne (NZ).