Zaheer saves India the blushes on day 1

His two wickets, in first and last over of the day, keep India in the game

BANGALORE: Ishant Sharma says neither team has taken a decisive advantage in the Test. And it is largely because of the Delhi pacer’s new ball partner. Zaheer Khan bowled with a lot of discipline and penetration and kept his side in the game with a two-wicket haul.

What perhaps could prove decisive in the Test would be left-arm pacer’s stunning delivery in the last over of the day. It caught Michael Clarke plumb in front of the wicket to get India back into the game.

Zaheer has taken the mantle of being the spearhead with a lot of seriousness. He worked hard on an unhelpful wicket and succeeded in preventing the Aussies from running away with a huge total. His wickets — in the first and the last over of the day — gave the Indians hope to bounce back in the Test.

Given the slow nature of the track, Zaheer (17.2-4-39-2) bowled in the right areas and succeed in styming the progress of the Aussies. In hindsight, India may have missed a trick or two. If only Zak got the second new ball for a few more overs, maybe India would have had a better day.