Australia survived a massive scare from India’s tailenders to snatch a thrilling four-run victory in the first match of their one-day international (ODI) series yesterday.
The world champions posted a daunting 292-8 and had the hosts reeling at 201-7, before Harbhajan Singh (49) and Praveen Kumar (40 not out) launched a stunning counterattack to take the match down to the wire.
Harbhajan slammed three sixes in his 31-ball knock and shared 84 runs off 57 balls with Kumar for the eighth wicket, but his dismissal in the final over turned the match in Australia’s favor.
PHOTO: AFP
Needing nine runs for a win in the last over by Peter Siddle, the Indians could manage just four to finish on 288-8 and hand the visitors a 1-0 lead in the seven-match series.
Left-handed opener Gautam Gambhir top-scored with 68, but India’s chances were severely affected by the early dismissals of batsmen Virender Sehwag (13) and Sachin Tendulkar (14).
“Full credit to Harbhajan and Kumar for bringing us so close to the target, but we lost too many wickets in the middle overs,” India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said. “Only Gambhir managed a 50 and if one more player had gone on to make a big knock, things could have been different.”
PHOTO: AFP
Australia, ranked No. 1 in the one-day ratings, were indebted to captain Ricky Ponting (74) and Michael Hussey (73), who ensured a stiff target for India through their aggressive batting.
India’s chase began on a shaky note when they lost explosive opener Sehwag in the fifth over, caught behind by Tim Paine off pace man Brett Lee (1-28).
Tendulkar, set to complete 20 years in international cricket next month, lost his wicket in tame fashion, holing out to Ponting after facing 39 balls and hitting just two fours.
Ponting, 34, smashed eight fours and two sixes in his 85-ball knock and put on 97 runs with Paine (50) after electing to bat on a placid wicket at the packed Reliance Stadium.
Hussey, named man of the match, built on the platform laid by the duo to slam eight fours and a huge six in a late assault that also saw Cameron White chip in with 51.
“Hussey was excellent and he made it look easy for us,” Ponting said. “Siddle also bowled a splendid last over. He has done it before for us as well. That’s a great positive we can take from this match. We bowled very well in the first 45 overs, but we need to be better at the death.”
The Australians did well to regroup after the early dismissal of Shane Watson, coming into this series after hitting back-to-back centuries in the Champions Trophy semi-final and final.
Watson (5) failed to read a sharp incutting delivery from Ashish Nehra and was adjudged leg before wicket by umpire Amish Saheba, who took on the on-field umpire’s role after England’s Mark Benson fell ill on the eve of the match.
Saheba had earlier been named as the third umpire.
Ponting, who became only the second Australian after Steve Waugh to feature in 50 one-day internationals against India, looked in prime form as he anchored the innings with young Paine.
The Aussie skipper raced to his 71st half-century with a boundary, before being trapped leg before wicket by Ravindra Jadeja, the left-arm spinner picking up his first wicket in his fourth one-day international.
The second match of the series will be played in the western city of Nagpur on Wednesday.
Carlos Alcaraz on Monday powered into the French Open second round with a resounding win to start his title defense, while world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and three-time defending women’s champion Iga Swiatek also progressed at Roland Garros. Four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz struck 31 winners in a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri and is to face Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan in round two. Alcaraz is now on an eight-match winning streak at the French Open and also took Olympic silver at Roland Garros last year, losing the final to Novak Djokovic. “The first round is never
SSC Napoli coach Antonio Conte has dragged the team back from disaster and restored them to the top of Italian Serie A, but his future at the Scudetto winners is in doubt even after a triumphant season. The fiery 55-year-old has exceeded preseason expectations and bolstered his reputation as a serial winner by guiding Napoli to their fourth Scudetto, and second in three seasons. However, he might well be on his way in the summer after just one season at the helm as his charged relationship with Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has simmered throughout the campaign. Conte has said
‘HELLA ENERGY’: Minnesota’s 42-point victory set a club record for points in a playoff game, but the team have to keep up their momentum to stay in the series, Edwards said Anthony Edwards on Saturday night scored 30 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves overwhelmed Oklahoma City 143-101 to tighten their NBA playoff series. Edwards added nine rebounds and six assists. while shooting 12-of-17 from the floor and 5-of-8 from three-point range as the hosts Timberwolves pulled a game back to be 2-1 behind in the best-of-seven Western Conference Finals. However, moments after the 42-point win, Minnesota were determined to forget all about it. Such is life in the NBA playoffs. “You’ve got to erase this one,” Edwards said. “This one is over. I know everyone is happy about this one, but we know OKC is
The horn sounded on Wednesday night to signal a third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final, as the Florida Panthers celebrated merely by hopping over the boards and several heading over to congratulate goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. It was a subdued celebration seemingly more befitting a regular-season win for the reigning Cup champs. “I remember a few years ago, it felt like such an accomplishment from where we were at one point,” forward Matthew Tkachuk said, adding: “It’s all business and we’ve got a bigger goal in mind.” The Panthers closed out the Carolina Hurricanes in five games, with a 5-3 victory in
RSS