Gambhir gives India solid start to second Australia test

By N. Ananthanarayanan

MOHALI, India (Reuters) - Opener Gautam Gambhir hit an unbeaten 53 for his seventh test fifty to give India a solid start to the second test against Australia on Friday.

India raced to 104 for one at lunch in the opening session, losing only opener Virender Sehwag for 35 after stand-in skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni elected to bat on a good batting pitch.

Rahul Dravid was 11 not out at the interval as the hosts brushed aside the disappointment of losing skipper and main spinner Anil Kumble to injury on his 38th birthday.

Sachin Tendulkar, 15 runs short of surpassing Brian Lara's world record for most test runs, was due to come in next. Gambhir lofted part-time left-arm spinner Michael Clarke for two consecutive fours over long-on to reach his fifty in the final over before lunch. He has hit eight fours facing 90 balls.

Left-handed Gambhir put on a brisk 70-run opening stand with Sehwag, the pair playing a range of shots as Australia pacemen led by Brett Lee found little early seam movement.

PUNISHED

Debutant paceman Peter Siddle, who had replaced the injured Stuart Clark, shared the new ball and struck Gambhir on the helmet with his first delivery as he ducked into a short ball.