North puts Aussies in right direction

Batsman Sachin Tendulkar recorded another major milestone, but a dogged century from Australian Marcus North put the touring side in control of the second cricket Test in Bangalore yesterday.

North's career-best 128 was the cornerstone of the Australian first innings which folded for 478 at tea on day two, but not before their lower order had added 193 runs to their overnight score of 285/5.

In reply, India made a feeble start, losing the explosive Virender Sehwag (30) and bail-out specialist Rahul Dravid (one) in quick succession.

Tendulkar remained unbeaten at 44 with opener Murali Vijay (42) at the other end, with India trailing Australia by 350 runs.

"It's going to be extremely important [today] that we have a very big partnership," Tendulkar said after the second day's play, which ended with India on 128/2.

"A couple of partnerships will bring us back into the game and put us in a decent position. Right now it's one of those challenging phases."

Playing his 171st Test, Tendulkar became the first batsman to amass 14000 Test runs when he hit off-spinner Nathan Hauritz for a boundary in the 27th over of the Indian innings.

Earlier, North's 149-run, sixth-wicket stand with fellow overnight batsman Tim Paine (59) defied the Indian bowlers in the morning session and took the visitors past the 400-run mark.

North mixed caution with aggression, slog-sweeping Pragyan Ojha for the first six of the innings before retreating into his defensive shell.

Paine's was a more eventful knock, in which he was caught behind off a Shanthakumaran Sreesanth no-ball and was dropped by Suresh Raina off Ojha before the left-arm spinner returned to settle the score.

North completed his fifth Test century in the next over and eventually fell to Harbhajan Singh after a resolute 240-ball knock which contained 17 fours and a six.

"I got a start last night, so I needed a big score," North said.

"It's a very good batting wicket, so it will be nice to get a couple of early wickets tomorrow [today]. They have got a partnership in Vijay and Sachin, but we will come out very hard tomorrow." Australia trails the two-match series 1-0. - Reuters

Scores in brief: Australia 478 all out (Marcus North 128, Ricky Ponting 77, Tim Paine 59, Shane Watson 57; Harbhajan Singh 4/148). India 128/2 (Sachin Tendulkar 44 no, Murali Vijay 42 no).