Hussey century gives Australians a chance Mike Hussey’s fighting spirit brought him his 48th first-class century and saved the Australians from a possible follow on in a pre-Test warm-up against the Indian Board President’s XI. On the third day in the four-day game, left-hander Hussey made 126 not out with last man Stuart Clark scoring a crucial 44 in a tenth-wicket partnership that was worth 96. Australia reached were all out for 314 in reply to the Indians’ 455. Without Hussey’s display of obduracy Ricky Ponting’s men may well have been entering Thursday’s first Test at Bangalore with a defeat behind them. Although the match is still far from over, the Aussies may have done enough to stave off an embarrassing reverse. Most of the damage had been done by leg-spinner Piyush Chawla, who took 5-89 in 40 overs, following up the dismissals of Ponting and Michael Clarke with the wickets of tail-enders Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle on Saturday morning. After Siddle’s departure Australia were 218-9. The Board XI closed on 110-2 with opener Wasim Jaffer unbeaten on 46 and no doubt determined to make a point to the selectors after he was left out of the Test squad.