Harbhajan claims his 300th victim

Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh could not have chosen any batsman other than Ricky Ponting as his 300th Test victim whom he dismissed for the tenth time on Day 2 of the Nagpur Test.

He became the third highest Indian wicket-taker after Anil Kumble and Kapil Dev and first Indian off-spinner to get 300 wickets. He pitched the ball just outside the off-stump. The ball turned in sharply to beat Ponting (24) and clip the bails. This was also Bhajji's 200th wicket on the Indian soil.

On the other hand, bad luck seems to have picked Matthew Hayden as its favourite child on this tour as he once gain failed to convert the start into a big knock. Just when he looked murderous, a direct throw from M. Vijay saw him short of crease for 16 runs.

Earlier, Australia's off-spinner Jason Krejza gave a sensational start to his Test career as he bagged eight wickets in his maiden Test at Nagpur and bundled India for 441 runs in their first innings.

After picking Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman on Thursday, Krejza on Day 2 cleaned up the Indian tail.

He first broke the 119-run partnership between MS Dhoni and Sourav Ganguly by foxing the former. The Indian skipper tried to paddle sweep but missed the delivery and the ball hit the leg-stump. Ganguly, who was looking set for the farewell ton, edged one to Michael Clarke at first slip.

Ganguly slammed 35th Test fifty, his 7th against Australia. Ganguly played 153 balls and hit eight 4s and one 6 during his knock of 85 runs. Dhoni also got 12th half-century, his third against the visitors, before falling for 56 runs.

Soon after they fell, Krejza hurried the Indian tail-enders pack in the pavilion. He deceived Zaheer Khan with his flight and the Indian fast bowler edged it to the stumps for just 1 run. In the very next delivery, his spinning counterpart Amit Mishra (0) was done by the 'doosra'. After pitching the ball straightened and hit the off-stump.

Ishant Sharma survived few deliveries but he soon nudged one to Katich who took a sharp catch at short leg.

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Anbu.