Australia draws first blood in India ODI series
Source: Agencies |
October 26, 2009, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
WORLD champion Australia kept its cool in the last over to beat India by four runs in a thrilling one-dayer in Vadodara, western India, yesterday.
The home team, chasing a daunting target of 293, slid to 201 for seven in the 40th over before a plucky eighth-wicket stand of 84 between Harbhajan Singh (49) and Praveen Kumar (40 not out) gave it hope in the opening game of the seven-match series.
India needed nine off the last over from Peter Siddle but the paceman bowled accurately, conceding just four runs and clean bowling Harbhajan.
"It was a pretty good performance until the last six or seven overs of the game," said Australia captain Ricky Ponting at the prize-giving ceremony.
"It was a terrific game of cricket in the end and we would have been disappointed had we lost. They kept fighting till the last ball and Harbhajan got them really close."
Earlier, Ponting (74), man of the match Michael Hussey (73), Tim Paine (50) and Cameron White (51) excelled in Australia's innings of 292 for eight after the tourists chose to bat first.
Left-hander Gautam Gambhir hit 68 to boost India after Australia had removed Virender Sehwag (13) and Sachin Tendulkar (14) cheaply.
Explosive batsman Yuvraj Singh missed the game with a finger injury but Gambhir put on 64 with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (34) for the fourth wicket to keep India in the contest.
Mitchell Johnson then trapped Gambhir leg before wicket with a yorker and caught and bowled Suresh Raina for nine.
Shane Watson followed up by having Dhoni caught at mid-on before Harbhajan and Praveen came together in a 57-ball stand that gave Australia a big scare.
The home team, chasing a daunting target of 293, slid to 201 for seven in the 40th over before a plucky eighth-wicket stand of 84 between Harbhajan Singh (49) and Praveen Kumar (40 not out) gave it hope in the opening game of the seven-match series.
India needed nine off the last over from Peter Siddle but the paceman bowled accurately, conceding just four runs and clean bowling Harbhajan.
"It was a pretty good performance until the last six or seven overs of the game," said Australia captain Ricky Ponting at the prize-giving ceremony.
"It was a terrific game of cricket in the end and we would have been disappointed had we lost. They kept fighting till the last ball and Harbhajan got them really close."
Earlier, Ponting (74), man of the match Michael Hussey (73), Tim Paine (50) and Cameron White (51) excelled in Australia's innings of 292 for eight after the tourists chose to bat first.
Left-hander Gautam Gambhir hit 68 to boost India after Australia had removed Virender Sehwag (13) and Sachin Tendulkar (14) cheaply.
Explosive batsman Yuvraj Singh missed the game with a finger injury but Gambhir put on 64 with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (34) for the fourth wicket to keep India in the contest.
Mitchell Johnson then trapped Gambhir leg before wicket with a yorker and caught and bowled Suresh Raina for nine.
Shane Watson followed up by having Dhoni caught at mid-on before Harbhajan and Praveen came together in a 57-ball stand that gave Australia a big scare.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
