The Hindu : Sport : Australia overwhelms India

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Monday, Oct 30, 2006
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Australia overwhelms India

Vijay Lokapally

Sehwag, Dravid come good

— Photo: S. Subramanium

BACK IN FORM: Virender Sehwag played a controlled innings to help India post a challenging total.

MOHALI : Things fell into perspective at the PCA Stadium when Australia thrashed India by six wickets and confirmed the difference between the two teams at the PCA Stadium here. The gap was glaringly huge and exposed the stark limitations that afflict the Indian cricket camp.

The team's dismal show did little to boost the image that has taken a heavy beating in recent months overseas.

The latest came at home in favourable conditions as India went out of the Champions Trophy, leaving the stage for Australia, which takes on New Zealand in a semifinal here on Wednesday.

— Photo: S. Subramanium

SWEEPING SUCCESS: Damien Martyn's good form continued as he guided Australia into the semifinals of the ICC Champions Trophy on Sunday.

India did nothing right apart from winning the toss. Electing to bat, it posted what looked a competitive target of 250 but the Australians made a mockery of the chase, feasting on some shoddy bowling and fielding. It was a timid show by Rahul Dravid and his men on a pitch of their liking. It was one game where India, badly let down by the bowlers, hardly looked like winning at any stage.

If shot-making was a challenge in the first half when India batted, it was an enjoyable vocation under the lights as Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting, Shane Watson and Damien Martyn, the `man of the match' for the second consecutive time, scored at will to complete the job with 26 balls to spare.

If batting had been India's concern until now, the bowling was an eyesore, with Irfan Pathan and Munaf Patel spraying the ball and conceding easy scoring opportunities.

The ease with which the Australians played the cut and pull amply highlighted the miserable length that the bowlers landed the ball in. It was embarrassing to watch the bowlers being clouted with inside-out strokes right through the Australian innings.

Hectic pace

The hectic pace at which Australia scored runs to make the most of the fielding restrictions made the task easy for every batsman. Gilchrist set the tone and Watson maintained the tempo with some aggressive batting.

India's chances diminished with every over and by the time the spinners assumed responsibility, the Australians were cruising merrily on the strength of Martyn's plucky half century.

The classy Martyn, who was let off once each by Mohammad Kaif (short leg) and Dravid (slip) off Harbhajan Singh, did not lose his composure and finished the task that was begun so well by his predecessors.

Gilchrist struck 23 off 24 balls, Watson slammed 50 off 46 balls with eight fours and Ponting a brilliant 58 off 69 balls with eight fours. Martyn's contribution was an unbeaten and decisive 73 off 104 balls with eight fours.

Sehwag comes good

In comparison, India's batting lacked character. Virender Sehwag's timely fifty (90 balls and nine fours) and Dravid's sedate handling of the situation in the middle overs saw India post a fighting total.

The start did not quite match the expectations as Sachin Tendulkar played and missed repeatedly until Glenn McGrath ended his misery in the middle. The wily Australian had given his side a dream start but Sehwag hung on.

Dravid was confidence personified and he took upon the mantle with a neat innings that set India on course to a competitive total. The India captain chose to explore the middle overs and had Mohammad Kaif for company even if the latter never looked convincing.

The 63-ball essay by Dravid contained six fours, one of them an imperious pull, a throwback to the days when he relished this shot.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni batted sensibly to make the most of the conditions in the last ten overs.

The Australians were happy to restrict the number of boundaries and McGrath was the pick of the lot. He bowled in three spells, effectively keeping the batsmen under check and support came adequately from Mitchell Johnson, who bowled in the right area with clever change of pace.

A pity the Indian bowlers learnt nothing from watching these wonderful performers.

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