Similar to the delightful innings of 71 he played at Perth earlier this year, this little gem of 68 was an composed but authoritative innings, full of fluent and sometimes thumping strokes. The circumstances then and yesterday are eerily similar. At Perth, he came in with the score reading 2-59 and built a partnership of 129 runs with Dravid setting up the platform for a memorable win. Here, he came in with the score reading 2-27 and built a partnership of 130 runs with Gambhir and has hopefully set up the platform for a win!
And the similarities doesn't end there. Between those beautiful on the toes back foot punches through point, cracking cover drives, glorious on drives, a delightful late cut and a thumping slog sweep he unleashed in this innings, the shot of the day was when very much similar to the shot he played against Lee in Perth, he nudged the same bowler's fast and furious short ball over slips for four!