This is what makes cricket so addictive. This absolute, ravishing unpredictability.
Let me do some sort of live commentary, as I can't think of typing up anything more substantial now, and perhaps sometimes the essence is lost in being too verbose.
Gilchrist and Warne have already gone, unsure of their feet, on a turning pitch. Similar to sub-continental batsmen on bouncier, seaming tracks. For some reason, the latter seems to be more celebrated, and somehow more widely recognized as a sign of failure of batting technique.
Now, a ball slips out of Rafique's hand as he attempts another curving away-spinner. The ball goes toward silly mid-off. As the ball comes to a rest behind silly mid-off and Aleem Dar thinks about signalling dead ball, Brett Lee strides to it. Behind the bravado, it is glaringly apparent that Australia are worried. Very, very worried. Similar sentiment was seen when a bunch of edges went wide of slip in Lee's opening spells in the second innings. The world's best team pushed into a corner by arguably the world's worst. Then Lee threw the ball back at the batsman trying to run him out. Now, he was attempting to beat a dead ball. Brilliant, delicious, unpredictable cricket.
Now, a quick run to short point. 257/6. Another 50 needed.
Enamul Haque to Lee, Lee is down the pitch to one that's flighted just a bit, straight six. Brilliant follow-through. Lee's batting has been a revelation since that Ashes. He pads up to one now, huge appeal, but ball's missing off by a mile. In between, he has defended a couple. Solid defence, perhaps a bit stiff-looking, but solid. He is going forward all the time, unlike Ponting who's been stuck on his backfoot more.
Rafique. And now Ponting steals a quick single to cover. 264/6. Perhaps, Australia will escape. Another 43. Big appeal for lbw. Dar walks away signalling over. Not a bad shout at all, big stride forward, but pretty straight. The forward stride saved him.
Lee 19*. Shahadat Hossain replaces Enamul. The Lee six might have forced Bangladesh the wrong way. Perhaps another over from Enamul might have been useful.
Hossain pushes one well wide of off. Straighter this time, and a very quick single to Mortaza at mid-off. 42 more. India was once all out for 42. Funny numbery game, this cricket.
Some reverse inswing for Hossain. Breaking back into Lee. Another one swinging deeply into Lee. Dug out. Ponting walks down the pitch, a couple of words to Lee. Perhaps Ricky is reminded of his first innings dismissal. More sharp nip back, a kind of doubled-up prod to fine leg, and there's 41 left to get.
Rafique again. Lee down the pitch. Perhaps trying to hit him out of the attack too. Forward now and plays it down on the onside. Squeezed to fine-leg and a nicely run couple. Bangladesh do not look urgent enough. Forward and clamped down on the on-side again. End of over.
Hossain. Huge, full inswing. Ponting squeezes to fine-leg. Lots of squeezes to fine-leg. The second new ball has been claimed. Brett Lee is batting in his bowling shoes. Hossain can't control the new ball, wide outside off. 37 more. More controlled outswing now. Hossain lopes in again. More outswing. Threatens to throw the stumps down. Hossain doing a Lee on Lee. Beautiful forward thrusting cover drive, 3 more. Lee is used to chasing down targets on final days.
A clip of Akram running into bowl with the old ball. Brilliant. Wasim clears a nostalgic lump in his throat, in the commentary box. Now, Mortaza. Ponting squared up. 35 to get. Gillespie to come and then no one. Well, Clark and MacGill.
Hossain drops a couple short to Lee who is standing well in front of the crease. The full ball is what he is worried about more. Ooh, a snorter. Lee just about swayed away. Turned away now for a single. 34 more. Mortaza. French cut first and then beaten. A sting in the tale?
Oooh, big nick, Lee is gone fencing at a beauty outside off. Lee 29. 277/7.
Stodgy Gillespie. 30 to get. Ponting swings into one down leg from Hossain. Perhaps it is time to rush to the finish. 26 more. Shy at the bowler's end. Missed. 25. Big curving outswinger. Dizzy leaves like Rahul. Another single now. 24. Short and Ponting off the top edge. Ohhh, dropped, DROPPED by Mortaza, desperate forward lunging, running Mortaza at fine-leg. Surely, that was the test. Ponting dropped, and now he's on 99. And, 100. Sensational captain's knock.
290/7. Ponting lifts his bat, the helmet comes off. Tired, defiant, unshaven, grim Ponting. And, tantalisingly, that's lunch. Another 17.
Perhaps, it is apt I leave it at that ... .
