Sunday, February 5, 2012

Australia draw first blood

Australia overwhelmed India by 65 runs in the opening tri-series international at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The tourists were bowled out for 151 - plus a performance unimpressive batting - chasing 217 under the Duckworth-Lewis method.

The competition was reduced to 32-more-by-side following the loss Over three hours of play due to rain.

India has a horrible start with both their openers - Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir - back to the pavilion for just 13 runs. Mitchell Starc did the cleanup work to Australia in his first two overs.

However, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma dealt positively with the best of the Australian attack before being undone in spectacular fashion by Clint McKay - who took two wickets in three balls. The tone suddenly came to life, runs dried up and the limits almost disappeared after the double blow in the 12th over.

Suresh Raina came and went as if he had some unfinished business left in the locker room. Needless to say - was that the ball short again.

It was now left on the shoulders of the responsible MS Dhoni and million dollar man Ravindra Jadeja but the pair had no Indian response to changes in the balance of Australia's pace attack four fronts, supported by subtle adjustment of Xavier Doherty. Together, they managed 37 runs for the sixth wicket in 49 balls. The required run-rate rose to 10.98 and was only a matter of time before they folded as they have for a long time now.

McKay was head of the Australian destroyer taking four for 20 off 4.4 overs.

Earlier, Australia were 35 for two after 11 overs when rain fell. But the home team came out on fire after stopping time by adding 181 runs in 21 overs.

India, after recording his first victory of a miserable tour at the same venue on Friday, started on a positive note. Vinay Kumar rocked the home team early with two quick goals - David Warner (6) and Ricky Ponting (2) - with the scoreboard reading 19/2 in 7.5 overs. Vinay, who raised $ 1.0 million of the Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2012 auction yesterday, dismissed Warner and then accounted for Ponting in his five most hostile in the first place.

Warner fell to a left handed shot irresponsible, trying to force a good length delivery from Kumar and lose it completely. Soon after, the young paceman produced a sharp rise delivery that caught Ponting in two minds as the right-handed Suresh Raina played straight, which had no trouble in gathering it in the area of ​​coverage. Figures Vinay read 5-0-8-2 before the interval rain.

U-Turn

However, the breaking was any side of house needed. They returned with a vengeance and gathered clues at will. Matthew Hussey brothers Wade and flipped the switch, ran fast and scored double limits as often as possible. Australians specially targeted Gautam Gambhir in the outfield - which has the strongest weapons.

The visitors took just 21 deliveries to get rid of-form Michael Clarke (10), but Wade - making his debut - and senior Hussey together 73 runs for the fourth wicket with Strokeplay aggressive. Wade followed his big-hitting Twenty20 series with the belligerent 67 off 69 balls with six four two fours before edging one to the stumps.

Michael then joined by David continued to accumulate misery upon the Indians with stunning race between the wickets and scored boundaries at will before falling to deep square leg Vinay. David followed suit in the cuttings collection execution and opened a Quickfire unbeaten 61 off just 30 balls including two sixes in the final over off Ravindra Jadeja for the Australians have to score at 6.75 runs an over.

The home team took its fiftieth second, third and fourth shaft is 30, 33 and 35 balls respectively. The first fifty runs came in 14.6 overs.

Up to eight pitchers were used by Dhoni - with spinners go to the abundance of leaf wetness. Only Vinay returned with impressive figures of 3 for 21 in seven overs.

India made one change to win Friday's Twenty20 eight wicket over Australia resting opener Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar including the line-up - which is still searching for his elusive 100th international century. Wicket-keeper Matthew Wade and versatile Dan Christian made his ODI debut for Australia. The second match of the tri-series between India and Sri Lanka will be played in Perth on February 8.

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