Clarke hits century

12 April 2012

A century from Michael Clarke helped Australia ease to a comfortable position against India on the fourth day of the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar series.

Clarke rode his luck en route to an unbeaten 101 - dropped on 21 and again on 90 and 94 - as the tourists reached 539 for seven at tea in reply to India's 613 for seven declared in the first innings.

Off-spinner Virender Sehwag completed his first five-wicket haul by dismissing Cameron White (44) just before tea, but not before the all-rounder had shared a 106-run stand for the seventh wicket with Clarke.

Clarke was handed a reprieve in just the fourth over of the day when Ishant Sharma put down a straightforward chance at long-off.

The New South Wales batsman skipped down the track in an attempt to cart leg-spinner Amit Mishra over the in-field but hit straight to Ishant, who grassed the regulation catch.

Sehwag's hopes of adding a fifth victim to his kitty were twice stymied by poor fielding, Clarke being the beneficiary on both occasions.

Clarke attempted a slog-sweep off the part-time off-spinner, but the delivery took the top edge and ballooned to VVS Laxman at long-off.

Laxman, however, dropped what ought to have been a simple catch. Four runs later, Clarke swept Sehwag again, this time straight to Mishra at deep square leg. Mishra advanced a touch, but failed to grasp cleanly.

Clarke then brought up his century by chopping a short ball from Sehwag through covers. Remarkably, only six boundaries and a six studded his eighth Test ton.