WE LOST BY A SMALL MARGIN

Aussies clinch thriller

©CricketNirvanaSunday, October 25, 2009 5:27:07 PM

Australia held their nerves to clinch an absolute thriller against India by 4 runs to take an opening lead in the seven-match ODI series, after Harbhajan Singh and Praveen Kumar almost pulled off an impossible victory against their archrivals.

It was a stunning contest towards the end where India needed only nine runs in the last over. An incredible late charge by Harbhajan Singh and Praveen Kumar almost helped India to pull off a fantastic victory but it was not to be, as Siddle removed Harbhajan Singh in the final over and put paid to their plan. India were tottering at 201-7 in the 40th over but finished with 288-8, thanks to an astonishing 85 run-stand between Harbhajan and Praveen Kumar which came off just 57 deliveries.

Harbhajan finished as the second highest scorer for India with a whirlwind 49, after Gautam Gambhir had scored a defiant 68.

Earlier, Sehwag, after showing menacing signs in the first couple of overs, was done in by a beautiful delivery from Brett Lee and was caught behind for 13.

India suffered another big blow when Sachin Tendulkar, after being troubled by the nagging off-stump line bowled by the Aussies, was eventually held out brilliantly by a diving Ponting for 14 at short-cover off Watson’s bowling.

Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli together, revived hopes of an Indian fight-back with their steady 58 run stand before Kohli threw his wicket, as going for a big heave, he ended up giving a catch to Watson at long-on.

But Gambhir, with a lot of intent, unwearyingly went about his job. He also showed signs of aggression with shots like a straight six down the long-on region off Watson.

The Australian bowlers, unlike their Indian counterparts, maintained the pressure they had created in the first 15 overs by dropping the ball consistently just outside the off-stump and sticking to their plans. Also, the bowlers were terrifically supported by the men in the field, who always kept the pressure on the batsmen by throwing themselves at the ball.

Just when the Indian batsmen, Gambhir and Dhoni, looked to take the game forward comfortably against Nathan Hauritz’s off-spinners, Ponting brought on his strike pace bowlers, who kept the scoring rate in check and made sure the required run rate catapulted to above 8 runs an over.

Gambhir and Dhoni kept fighting, ran hard between the wickets and pounced on each of the limited scoring opportunity the Australian bowlers presented them with, until Mitchell Johnson, off the first ball of is new spell, and the batting powerplay, got rid of the well set Gambhir for 68.

The Indians were well on the course to make an optimal use of their batting powerplay with Dhoni and Raina trying to cut loose. Dhoni played a couple of powerful square-cuts off the back foot, while Raina sent one from Watson sailing down the mid-wicket boundary for a mammoth six.

But the Aussies struck back to leave India tottering when Raina played one straight back to Johnson and Dhoni, looking for a big shot, gave an easy catch to Brett Lee at mid-on, while on 34.

Harbhajan and Praveen Kumar did get India to a striking distance of an improbable victory but in the end sanity prevailed, as Peter Siddle knocked off Harbhajan’s stump in the last over.

All the Aussie bowlers had decent figures against their names until the Bhajji-Praveen duo spoilt the party for them. Off-spinner Nathan Hauritz impressed one and all with his intelligent spell of 34-1 from 9 overs.

Earlier, Ricky Ponting (74) and Michael Hussey (73) had propelled the visitors to a more than competitive score of 292 with valuable half centuries from Tim Paine and Cameron White.

Among the Indian bowlers, Ishant Sharma was the best in the lot with 3 scalps at an economy rate of 5.

Michael Hussey, for his match-winning knock of 73 off just 54 balls was deservedly adjudged the Player of the Match.