India overwhelm Oz at Brisbane

Well played mate
By RK - 19 Jan 2004
January 29 2004

A team effort from India at Brisbane sees them grab a convincing ODI win against home team Australia. Laxman and Tendulkar, along with Pathan and Balaji, deliver standout performances.

What a match it has been? Indian youngsters have been a revelation in the Australia so far. While no one doubted the batting strength of India, it was the young bowlers who turned the game for India. Pathan and Balaji bowled the hearts out to handover the win in a spectacular fashion. This match was fought till the end. The way these two matches have proceeded so far, we are in for best of 3 finals. I will not be surprised if the winner will be decided in the last ball of the last over.

India won the toss and elected to bat on a pitch which offered enough assistance to the pacers during the early overs. If Indians could overcome the initial Aussie assault, Indians could put pressure on the Aussies. India made two changes to the lineup bringing in Rohan Gavaskar and Ashish Nehra for Sehwag and Agarkar. Both Sehwag and Agarkar have been the major success in this series so far. Australia brought in Gillespie and Harvey back in place of Bichel and Hogg. India had a slightly depleted team compared to full-fledged Aussie lineup. Clearly Aussies had the edge over India.

Ganguly and Tendulkar opened the batting. Ricky Ponting opened the bowling attack with Gillespie and Brad Williams instead of Brett Lee. That goes to tell the confidence Ponting had with Brett Lee. Both Gillespie and Brad Williams bowled an immaculate length and did not offer anything to the batsman. The first over of the match provided enough drama on how the game was going to proceed. In the second ball of Gillespie over, Ganguly & Adam Gilchrist were beaten by a beautiful outswinger which went for four byes. In the next ball of the over, Ganguly slashed at Gillespie delivery which flew straight to Damien Martyn at the gully. Damien Martyn dropped a sitter which will put additional pressure on Martyn. In the second over, Tendulkar shaped to drive through the off and ball flying wide off 3rd slip for a four.

During the initial overs, both Sachin and Ganguly tried to concentrate on looking for singles to keep the scoreboard ticking. In Gillespie fourth over, Ganguly chanced his arm and whacked him over cover for a glorious four and followed with glorious six over cover. Ganguly's timing was superb and was middling the ball well. In the 8th over, Ganguly stepped out making room and hitting out Brad Williams for a superb cover drive dissecting the fieldsmen. Just when the run rate was starting to creep up, Brad Williams bowled a beautiful short pitch delivery that took Ganguly by surprise and all Ganguly could do was fend it. Brad Williams took and easy catch to dismiss Ganguly. The score at the time was 37/1.

Laxman was the next man in. Ricky Ponting introduced Brett Lee in the 11th over. Till then, Laxman who had faced 5 balls and had not opened up his account. The first ball of Brett Lee was driven through a cover for a couple. When Brett Lee bowled a short one to Laxman, Laxman stands tall waits for it and pulls him from outside the off to midwicket boundary. In the same over when Brett Lee overpitched the delivery slightly outside the offstump, Laxman launches himself into a cover drive for a boundary. These two shots revealed the confidence of Laxman when facing Brett Lee. (India 54/1 after 11 overs)

Once Laxman opened up the floodgates, it was Tendulkar's turn to go after the bowling. Tendulkar cover-drove Williams for a boundary. While doing so he twisted his ankle. In the same over he on drove Brad Williams for a boundary. After playing the shot, Tendulkar was limping. This shot brought memories of Worldcup match against Pakistan. In Brett Lee next over, Tendulkar drove and flicked to boundaries on the leg side. Both these balls were pitched on or about the offstump and Tendulkar still managed to play on the leg side. Lee went for another 10 runs in the 15th over. Tendulkar pulls him from outside the off to the midwicket for a boundary four and for a change plays a square cut to point boundary for four.

Both Tendulkar and Laxman did not allow Brett Lee to settle down and was promptly taken away from the attack after 3 overs. Lee's first 3 overs cost him 30 runs. At the end of 15 overs, Indians were on 89/1 with Tendulkar on 49 off 49 balls and Laxman 15 off 17 balls.

After the initial onslaught, Indians cruised at an average of over 5 runs an over. Tendulkar was struggling to run because of the ankle injury, but was adamant on not having a runner for him. At one stage, Tendulkar asked for a runner and Ganguly walked in the middle. Tendulkar changed his mind and sent Ganguly back to the den. While Tendulkar was scoring run a ball, VVS after the initial onslaught was struggling to force the pace of the game. The Aussies were tying him down and all his shots were going straight to fieldsmen. Tendulkar was inching towards another century when he hit Symonds delivery tamely back to the bowler. Tendulkar out for 86 off 95 deliveries and score at 147/2. VVS 35 off 52 deliveries.

While India was cruising around 5.25 runs an over, the pace of the innings need to stepped up. Between overs 16 and 30, there were only 3 boundaries. VVS was struggling to force the pace of the match. His first 50 came of 79 balls out of which 35 were dot balls. At one point India looked like scoring around 320-330. Because of the some tight overs in the middle, it looked like 280 would the final score. Dravid came at the fall of Tendulkar’s wicket. What India needed at that juncture was some quick lusty hitting and someone like Yuvraj would have the right tonic.

But Dravid had different things in mind. He played a classic innings where he brought urgency into the proceedings. He ran hard, converted singles into twos, twos into 3s and kept the scoreboard ticking. Dravid was scoring a run a ball. His 50 runs came off 50 balls with just one boundary. While Dravid was pushed the run-rate, VVS also started to step up. Till then VVS had played a copybook innings. VVS started to improvise, stepping outside, playing inside out, playing some lofty shots. Meanwhile, Aussies fielded brilliantly. Just as you think the ball will reach the boundary ropes, Aussie fielders will come from nowhere to prevent a possible boundary. Both Dravid and VVS ran well and sometimes took a lot of risks. On multiple occasions, they would have been run out if the direct throw from fieldsman had hit the stumps.

Australia kept India’s run rate in check. Gillespie and Brad Williams bowled beautifully and gave nothing away. At the end of 40 overs, India was 226/2 with run rate of 5.51. India needed step up the tempo to put a reasonable score. Ricky Ponting had to complete Gillespie in the 43rd over which meant he had to rely on Brett Lee and Harvey to finish the final overs. Indians turned the heat on Brett Lee and Harvey. Lee after having a disastrous first spell, had improved his figures by bowling a few tight overs in the middle. It was inevitable that Lee / Harvey were going to go for runs as India were in pursuit of quick runs and also had a lot of wickets in hand. Lee's last 4 overs went for 39 runs and Harvey's 3 overs went for 28. In the last 5 overs, India scored 50 runs. Dravid fell to a superb innings of 74 off 64 balls and Laxman scored his century off the last ball, whacking the ball over mid-wicket for a boundary. Laxman century coming off 113 balls with 8 boundaries. India did well to cross the 300-mark. Considering that India had wickets in hand, India ended up 20 runs short which meant that Aussies had an even chance of beating the Indians.

Australia innings:

For the past 3 years, Australia has never been in this situation. Typically, when they bat first; demolish the opposition, score over 300 runs and give enough runs for bowlers to bowl the opposition. If Aussies bowled, they will run through the opposition and restrict the opposition. All the Aussie batsmen had to do was score runs easily.

All their matches have been so one-sided that John Buchanan was arrogant enough to write a column that ICC should change the rules so that opposition team can have a chance against Aussies.

Aussies for the first time were challenged to rise to occasion if they had to beat the Indians. Indians went in the match without Ajit Agarkar who was leading bowler of the series. India were also missing out Zaheer Khan which meant that Indian bowling lineup was fragile. It remained to be seen if Indian bowling lineup would withstand the onslaught of Aussies especially the top order.

Nehra and Pathan started the proceedings. Aussie got off to a flier. Before Pathan and Nehra could set into a rhythm, Aussie had scored over 40 runs off 4 overs. Gilchrist was playing his customary pulls and slashes over the point that ball rocketed towards the boundary. Even some of his mistimed strokes cleared the infield. Meanwhile Hayden was in sound form. He played his shots off the square, stepped out to Pathan and kept the scoreboard ticking. Aussie batsman fancy themselves to hit out Indian bowlers and during one such attempt, Gilchrist mistimed a Pathan delivery to Balaji at midon. Gilchrist went for 21 runs off 15 balls with 2 boundaries. (Score 46/1 after 6 overs).

Balaji was brought after 4 overs as Nehra's (first 4 overs had gone for 34 runs). Even though Gilchrist had gone, Hayden was on sound form. He continued to play strokes and was not afraid to take risks. He uppishily steered Nehra delivery through the vacant slips, uppishly flicked Nehra towards fine leg and pulled pathan for a boundary. When Hayden is in such awesome form, all the other batsmen had to do was give strike back to him. Ponting went for an ambitious drive and mistimed it. The ball flew high over the slip region and Laxman made no mistake. Balaji has dismissed Ponting again. (Score 85/2 after 11 overs).

Meanwhile Nehra came back for the second spell. After the initial Aussie onslaught, Nehra bowled a good line and length and kept the innings tight. He bowled well with Balaji and choked the runs. Balaji was again to claim the wicket off Damien Martyn chasing a wide delivery outside the off stump. Yuvraj was the one to take an easy catch. (Score 94/3 after 13 overs). Aussies run rate had dipping to less than 6.75 runs after the early onslaught.

After the first 15 overs, the game was evenly poised. Australia having got to a flier and Indians able to take 3 wickets in the process. What Aussies now needed was for a good partnership, they had two in-form batsmen in Hayden and Symonds who can graft runs. Indians were looking to Kumble to get more wickets as well increase the required run rate up. Hayden and Symonds played sensible cricket, kept the scoreboard ticking in singles and occasional boundaries. Just when the partnership threatened to take India out of the game, Ganguly introduced a bowling change. He brought in Rohan Gavaskar to replace Balaji. In his first over, Rohan got the wicket of Symonds similar to how Symonds had got Tendulkar. Symonds tried to drive Gavaskar uppishly . Rohan dived to his right to bring up a brilliant catch. (Australia 141/4 after 23 overs).

Clarke was the new man in. He provided admirable support to Hayden and both of them played Kumble and Gavaskar sensibly. Just when the required run rate was creeping up to 6.3, Clarke pushed the tempo. He was v.severe on Gavaskar. He stepped up and played lofted shots to bring the required run rate down. Clarke ruined Gavaskar's bowling figures. After restricting aussies for 18 runs in 4 overs, clarke and Hayden scored 17 runs of Rohan’s next 2 overs. Hayden scored his century of 98 balls and was looking solid to take the game away from India.

Australia brought up 200 runs in 33 overs. With 104 runs required off 17 overs, the match was interestingly poised. Aussies had a slight edge because both Hayden and Clarke were batting superbly without taking undue risks. India desperately needed a breakthrough. Ganguly brought in Pathan and immediately created an opportunity only for Balaji to miss a sitter. Hayden stepped out and lofted an ondrive Balaji. But Balaji missed a sitter and the ball went for a boundary. It looked like this may cost us the match. But Pathan got Hayden's wicket in the same over. Hayden stepped out to play a drive and in the process edged it for Dravid to take an easy catch. (204/5 in 34 overs).

The game was set for Bevan to finish the game. If Bevan and Clarke could have a good partnership, Aussies could romp home easily. Just when their partnership threatened to reach enormous proposition, Clarke chased a wide delivery from Pathan to offer a faint edge to Dravid. (224/6 in 37 overs).

The game was perfectly set. 74 runs of 12 overs. If Bevan and Harvey hang around till end they can romp up well. All the Indians needed was to bowl a few tight overs, increase the required run rate and hope for Australia to commit mistake. Ganguly brought in Kumble and Nehra India's two experienced bowlers to finish their spell. Nehra bowled an excellent spell where both Bevan and Harvey could not force the pace. Nehra conceded just 3 runs 39th over, 41st over and 43rd over when the asking rate was more than 6.2 an over. Kumble bowled the 40th and 42 over and went 11 runs. Both these spells enabled India to increase the RRR from 6.17 to 7.71. Harvey in the process of stepping up the tempo got out attempting to clear the boundary. Rohan Gavaskar taking a well judged catch at deep mid wicket.

44th over: (54 runs of 7 overs RRR 7.71)

India now needed to rely on the younger brigade to finish the game for India. All the experienced bowlers have completed their spell. Bevan is still the danger man. Balaji has 3 overs remaining, Pathan has 2 overs remaining and the other 2 overs could be bowled by either by Rohan Gavaskar or Ganguly. It is a true test whether India had in it to withstand the pressure to come out in flying colors.

Balaji concedes just 4 runs in the over. He bowls within himself and denies Brett Lee & Bevan any width to slog. Both the batsman wasting a delivery in going for a slog. Bevan retains the strike

45th over: (50 runs reqd of 6 overs RRR 8.30) Gavaskar concedes 8 runs in the over. Bevan trying to force the pace scores 6 runs off the over. Brett Lee does not do anything stupid and gives the strike back to Bevan.

46th over: (42 off 5. RRR 8.40)

Balaji denies Lee any room to play a shot. Lee wasted 2 deliveries before taking a single. Bevan scores 3 runs before hands over the strike to Lee. Lee goes for a huge heave and Kumble takes a well judged catch at Mid-off.

47th over: (38 off 4 overs: RRR 9.50)

Australia should go after Gavaskar to bring the run rate down. 38 runs off 24 balls. They need to 2-3 big hits. Gavaskar keeps tight length, does not offer anything. Bevan and Gillespie could get only 5 runs of the over.

48th over: (33 off 3 overs: RRR 11.00)

Pathan comes in to replace Balaji. Bevan is showing a bit of urgency. Pathan bowls a short pitch ball and Bevan dispatches the delivery over midwicket region for 4. Pathan ensures there are no more easy ones for Aussies as Bevan and Gillespie run singles and twos to keep the scoreboard ticking. 8 runs of the over.

49th over: (25 off 2 overs: RRR 12.50)

Balaji keeps it tight. Does not give away anything. In the process, gets the wicket of Gillespie. Just 3 runs from the over.

50th over: (22 off 1 over RRR 22.00)

Pathan to bowl the last over. Indians are almost there. Pathan concedes just a run and Williams is run-out by Dravid. Indians have won the match by 19 runs.

What a match! A true team effort where everyone contributed. No longer is this team dependent on Tendulkar or Zaheer Khan. The team has a great attitude. Pathan and Balaji bowled their hearts out in the final overs. Cannot wait to see what will happen in the next match. This is the first time the Aussies looked vulnerable. Both these teams are evenly matched. The next match promises to be a great one.