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Australia prevails in a tense encounter

S. Dinakar

Gambhir’s century is highlight of the Indian innings

Sydney: Before rearranging Ishant Sharma’s stumps with a precise yorker and ending the match, Brett Lee had accomplished something even more spectacular.

Unmindful of the strain of bowling a few fiery overs and at the business end of a humdinger, Lee soared over the boundary ropes even as he flipped the ball back after a frantic chase to save precious runs.

Earlier, Adam Gilchirst chased an inside-edge right down to the fence and then flung himself forward in a desperate attempt to stop a boundary. The heroic effort was in vain but threw light on the Aussie spirit. It takes more than just batting and bowling to win games consistently.

Lee’s five-for

Lee picked up five wickets with his speed, control and swing, and put his heart into his fielding. On a flat track at the SCG here on Sunday, Australia riding on Man of the Match Ricky Ponting’s 133-ball 124 made 317 for seven in 50 overs. The host elected to bat and three of its batsmen seeking runs, Matthew Hayden, Ponting and Andrew Symonds struck form.

India, with Gautam Gambhir (113 off 119 balls) leading the fightback, threatened briefly before being dismissed for 299 in the last over.

Australia’s win took its tally to 26 from seven games in the CB ODI tri-series. India has 12 from seven and Sri Lanka, with six from six, has to defeat India at Hobart and then win the last league game against Australia in Melbourne to qualify for the finals.

Early setbacks

The Indian innings was rocked early on as Lee trapped Sachin Tendulkar as he played across. Stuart Clark prised out Virender Sehwag next with a short of a length delivery in the corridor. Left-armer Nathan Bracken snared Rohit Sharma with an angled delivery across the right-hander. Yuvraj Singh perished to a horrendous slash at a Clark delivery wide outside the off-stump.

With India at 51 for four the game seemed headed for an early finish. The left-handed Gambhir then combined with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to add 98 for the fifth-wicket and keep India in the frame. Gambhir, whose second century of the tournament included nine fours and a six, punched through the gaps, employed the lofted shot and the pull well.

Gambhir is a busy batsman who works the ball around with his wrists. While he can find the boundaries, he can also rotate the strike. Ponting’s move to give Lee another burst paid as Dhoni edged one outside the off-stump. Then, a smart piece of stumping by Gilchrist ended Gambhir’s tenure as he attempted a pull-sweep off Brad Hogg.

Incredible six

Robin Uthappa (51, 46b, 4x4, 1x6) waded into the bowling, clubbing Lee for an incredible straight six and striking the ball powerfully on either side of the wicket. Lee, eventually, prised him out.

As the match neared conclusion, the Aussies took the pace off the ball and Gilchrist stood up to the pacemen. There were brave contributions from Irfan Pathan and Harbhajan but the host kept taking wickets.

Earlier, the nature of the pitch suited Ponting’s bid to regain form. He was not going to be bothered by the sideways movement.

He could launch on to his front-foot without the fear of nicking one. The majestic cover-drives rocketed to the fence, so did the inimitable pulls.

Not many batsmen use the crease as well as the Aussie captain does.

Hayden launched into big drives before he was run out and Symonds hit the ball with tremendous power. A straight hit off Harbhajan had the bowler taking evasive action.

Sadly, this was a match where bad behaviour was witnessed. There were words exchanged between Ponting and Harbhajan. Ishant Sharma repeatedly pointed to the pavilion and possibly said something after yorking a rampant Symonds.

For a change, it was a batsman’s day in the series. But then, Lee had the final say.

SCOREBOARD

Australia: A. Gilchrist c Dhoni b Sreesanth 16, M. Hayden (run out) 54, R. Ponting c Pathan b Sreesanth 124, M. Clarke c Rohit b Sehwag 31, A. Symonds b Ishant 59, M. Hussey (not out) 15, J. Hopes (run out) 4, B. Lee (run out) 0; Extras (lb-5, w-8, nb-1) 14; Total: (for seven wickets, 50 overs) 317.

Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Gilchrist), 2-131 (Hayden), 3-196 (Clarke), 4-296 (Symonds), 5-304 (Ponting), 6-317 (Hopes), 7-317 (Lee).

India bowling: Sreesanth 8-0-58-2, Ishant 10-0-65-1, Pathan 9-0-73-0, Harbhajan 9-0-50-0, Sehwag 6-0-27-1, Yuvraj 8-0-39-0.

India: V. Sehwag c Gilchrist b Clark 17, S. Tendulkar lbw b Lee 2, G. Gambhir st Gilchrist b Hogg 113, Rohit c Gilchrist b Bracken 1, Yuvraj c Gilchrist b Clark 5, M.S. Dhoni c Gilchrist b Lee 36, R. Uthappa c Hussey b Lee 51, I. Pathan c Bracken b Hopes 22, Harbhajan c Gilchrist b Lee 20, S. Sreesanth (not out) 3, Ishant b Lee 2; Extras: (b-6, lb-5, w-12, nb-4) 27; Total: (49.1 overs) 299.

Fall of wickets: 1-3 (Tendulkar), 2-45 (Sehwag), 3-46 (Rohit), 4-51 (Yuvraj), 5-149 (Dhoni), 6-216 (Gambhir), 7-257 (Pathan), 8-290 (Harbhajan), 9-290 (Uthappa).

Australia bowling: Lee 9.1-1-58-5, Bracken 10-0-53-1, Clark 10-0-55-2, Hopes 6-0-27-1, Hogg 9-0-62-1, Clarke 5-0-33-0.

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