Vadodara, October 25: In a match that had the ability to silence people who question ODI cricket’s existence, Australia beat India by 4 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the 7 match series.
It was a brilliant 84-run partnership between Harbhajan Singh and Praveen Kumar that took India to the brink of victory before Harbhajan was bowled by Siddle, leaving India tentalisingly close to the target.
Moments after losing Gambhir, India suffered two more crucial blows as they lost the wickets of Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni. Raina was caught and bowled by Mitchell Johnson off a slower delivery while Dhoni departed soon after off Shane Watson.
Just when it seemed like India were taking the upper hand in the match, they lost the crucial wicket of Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir was out LBW off the bowling of Mitchell Johnson for 68.
Despite losing the crucial wickets of Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar early on in the innings, India continued to score at a healthy rate as the duo of Gambhir and Kohli took the attack to the opposition.
Moments after losing the crucial wicket of Virender Sehwag, India suffered another huge jolt as Sachin Tendulkar (14) was sent back to the pavilion by Shane Watson.
After an initial burst that saw India score 20 runs in just 2 overs, Brett Lee removed the dasher Virender Sehwag. Sehwag was out caught behind the wickets for just 13.
Earlier, riding on Michael Hussey’s late assault of 73 runs off just 54 deliveries, Australia posted an impressive 292 for the loss of 8 wickets in their 50 overs.
Electing to bat first after winning the toss, it was skipper Ricky Ponting, who initiated the assault with a quick 74 and capitalised on some listless bowling from the Indians.
After losing a wicket early on in their innings, the Aussies recovered brilliantly thanks to a 97-run stand between Ponting and Tim Paine (50). Another significant contributor for the visitors was Cameron White with 51 runs.
The Indians struck early as Ashish Nehra sent back in-form Shane Watson in just the second over of the innings with the score reading 5/1. Having hit the very first ball of the match for a boundary, Watson was caught plumb in front of the wickets off an incoming delivery that he tried to steer away.
Ponting who came in at the fall of Watson’s wicket got into the act along with Paine, smashing the bowlers to all corners of the park.
The Australian 100 came up in just the 19th over but Paine was dismissed caught behind the wickets off Ishant Sharma, soon after.
Ponting, however, kept his composure to continue smashing the bowlers before his end came in the form of LBW off the bowling of young Ravidra Jadeja.
–Agencies—