Dravid's century sustains India

Rahul Dravid, hitherto struggling to come to terms on the pacy and bouncy Australian wickets, at last struck form on the opening day of their four day match between the Indian tourists and Tasmania at Hobart on Friday. The stylish and technically proficient batsman from Karnataka hit 107 as the Indians were 241 for six at close.

The form of Dravid was not the only pleasing aspect from the Indian point of view. Hrishikesh Kanitkar, one of the claimants for a Test place for the second Test in Melbourne, got a half century and shared a century stand with Dravid for the third wicket. But VVS Laxman's fall for a duck and a middle order collapse which saw three wickets falling for eight runs in 4.3 overs would have been the cause of some concern for the touring team, still in the process of getting their act together after the first Test which was badly lost by 285 runs.

Laxman, who has displayed some consistency on the tour, was out in the third over snicking medium pacer Wright to Atkinson behind the stumps when the total was five. But Dravid and Sadagopan Ramesh put the innings back on course with a second wicket stand of 50 runs from 13 overs. The left handed Ramesh was the dominant partner before he was caught by Marsh at slip off Downton for 34. Ramesh batted 70 minutes, faced 48 balls and hit three fours.

Then came the best phase of the Indian innings with Dravid and Kanitkar getting entrenched for an association that was to last nearly three hours. The partnership was not broken till the two had added 114 runs off 48.4 overs with some steady batting. Kanitkar was finally leg before wicket to seamer Scott Kremerskothen for 58. The left hander from Maharashtra faced 140 balls and hit seven of them to the ropes.

Vijay Bhardwaj, another claimant for a spot in the Test side, then helped Dravid add 58 runs for the fourth wicket off 19.2 overs. Dravid got to three figures and at 227 for three, the Indians were well placed for a big total. Then Bhardwaj was run out by Miller for 14. The youngster from Karnataka batted 72 minutes and faced 68 balls.

Tasmania now came back strongly into the game. At 233, Dravid's innings finally came to an end when he also edged Wright, who was bowling with the second new ball, to Atkinson. In many ways it was a typical Dravid innings for he batted 324 minutes, faced 257 balls and hit ten fours. In the following over, stand in skipper Saurav Ganguly (5) gave Atkinson his third catch when he snicked Downton. Wicketkeeper Nayen Mongia, playing his first match on the tour, and T Kumaran with four apiece were at the crease at stumps.

For Tasmania, opening bowlers Wright and Downton took two wickets each. Colin Miller, hoping to be recalled to the Australian side for the second Test at Melbourne bowled 25 overs but went wicketless.