Print

Mail

wiki links

Australia beat India by 84 runs to take 1-0 lead

Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal looks on as South Africa cricketer Jacques Kallis hits the ball on the second day of the first Test match between Pakistan and South Africa in Karachi, Pakistan, yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Brad Haddin and Andrew Symonds hammered brisk half-centuries to set up Australia's crushing 84-run win over India in the second one-day international yesterday.

Australia's batting might was on view as the World Cup winners posted a challenging 306-6, with man-of-the-match Haddin (87 not out), Symonds (87) and Matthew Hayden (75) all putting the Indian attack to the sword.

The total was big enough to put pressure on world Twenty20 champions India, who were bowled out for 222 to concede a 1-0 lead in the seven-match series. The first one-dayer was abandoned owing to rain at Bangalore on Saturday.

The match also saw rival players trade words in the middle -- first Indian seamer Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and Symonds and then Indian batsman Harbhajan Singh with a few Australian players after his dismissal.

Sreesanth later received a nasty blow on his helmet as he reacted late to a firm drive from his captain Mahender Singh Dhoni, who top-scored with a fighting 58 before being the last man out.

Australia virtually wrapped up the match when they reduced India to 87-4 in the opening 15 overs, with paceman Stuart Clark grabbing two wickets, and Mitchell Johnson and James Hopes one apiece.

Robin Uthappa tried to match the Australians' stroke-play as he hit a 30-ball 41 with two sixes and four boundaries but his flourish did not last long. He was trapped leg-before by Clark.

India were on the back foot after losing ace batsman Sachin Tendulkar (16), Twenty20 world championships sensation Yuvraj Singh (10) and Gautam Gambhir (seven) cheaply.

AB de Villiers hit a rapid 77 to power South Africa to 450 after Jacques Kallis notched a masterly 155 in the first Test against Pakistan at the National Stadium yesterday.

De Villiers cut loose after lunch on the second day, hitting seven boundaries and a six off 101 balls to boost the tourists' total on a placid pitch which offered little help to the bowlers.

The 23-year-old was the last man out, bowled by paceman Umar Gul, who finished with 2-60.

Pakistan's spin attack was led by debutant left-armer Abdul Rehman, who finished with 4-105 as the home team took the last six wickets for 77 runs once they dismissed the danger man Kallis before lunch. Before that Kallis punished the bowlers with some delightful strokes after the tourists resumed at 294-3.
This story has been viewed 1156 times.