Indians fight, but prove no match for Aussies, from TOI Options

[Pradeep]

Team India put up a brave fight but in the end the target of 348 proved too much with Australia winning the match at Bangalore by 61 runs.

India finished with 286/8 in their 50 overs, managing to grab a bonus point. The hosts and Kiwis now have 10 points each. India will now have to win against the Kiwis in what is a virtual semi-final at Hyderabad on Saturday.

The Indian chase was spearheaded by Sachin Tendulkar, the man whom the Aussies have learned to fear. Batting as if at nets, Sachin blasted the Aussie bowlers in the company of Virender Sehwag who looked acutely uncomfortable in the first 10 overs.

The Australian new ball bowlers kept a light leash on the Indian openers in the first 10 overs with just 46 runs being scored. But Virender Sehwag, taking the attack to the Australian camp, started throwing everything at the ball and the ruse worked for a while. Andy Bichel was left smarting with Sehwag slamming two boundaries through the covers and then slashing the next ball over the covers for a six.

But Ian Harvey kept his cool under Sehwag's onslaught from the other end. The dashing Indian all-rounder (39 off 50 deliveries) was clean bowled by Harvey off a ball that kept straight. The Indian total now read 103/1 in the 18th over.

VVS Laxman and Tendulkar struck a 45-run partnership before Laxman (18 off 22 balls) danced down the wicket to Michael Clarke only to be caught by Symonds.

With Tendulkar and skipper Ganguly at the crease, there was still hope for India but Tendulkar after a magnificent 89 off 91 deliveries packed with 12 boundaries and a six was dismissed when an Ian Harvey delivery struck the pads and crashed into the stumps.

Sourav Ganguly made an entertaining 37 off 32 balls with four boundaries and a six before he was caught in the deep by Bichel off Symonds.

Rahul Dravid batting well on 34 off 44 deliveries was brilliantly caught and bowled by Kasprowicz.

Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif made just 28 runs between themselves and the Indian hopes were extinguished.

Earlier, it was the World Cup revisited with Australia piling up a mammoth 347/2 in their 50 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat.

The massive Australian total was made possible by Adam Gilchrist’s first one-day ton against India before he was dismissed for 111 and Ricky Ponting ’s unbeaten 108 off 102 deliveries with seven sixes and just one boundary!

Adam Gilchrist’s 111 came off 104 deliveries studded with 16 spanking boundaries and one six. This was Gilchrist’s ninth one-day hundred.

Gilchrist’s innings and Matthew Hayden’s 44 got Australia off to a flyer. The typical Gilchrist innings consisted of power play as he slammed the ball all over the ground pulling and driving at will.