India beat Australia with two balls to spare

Sun, 12 Feb 11:19:00 2012

Gautam Gambhir's 92 at the top and some smart batting by captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni at the finish helped India chase down a 270-run target against Australia in Adelaide for their second win in the triangular series.

India's MS Dhoni (R) plays a shot as Australia's Matthew Wade looks on during the one-day international cricket match in Adelaide - 0

The visitors, needing 13 runs in the last over, reached the mark with four wickets in hand and two balls to spare, aided by a huge straight six by Dhoni who remained unbeaten on 44 to see India through.

Clint McKay, the most successful bowler for Australia on Sunday with three for 53, made it easier for the Indians by bowling a no-ball in the last over.

Gambhir, who was rested against Sri Lanka in India's last match, was drafted in for Sachin Tendulkar on Sunday as part of India's rotation policy.

Left-handed Gambhir laid the foundation for India, stitching together two fifty-run stands with fellow opener Virender Sehwag (20) and later with Rohit Sharma (33) for the third wicket.

Suresh Raina (30-ball 38) and Dhoni then added 61 runs for the fifth wicket before Raina fell with India still needing 31 runs for victory.

Ravindra Jadeja also departed soon but Dhoni, known for his calm demeanour on the field, stayed till the end to ensure there were no further hiccups.

Earlier, solid half centuries from David Hussey (72) and debutant Peter Forrest (66) took Australia to 269 for eight after captain Michael Clarke opted to bat after winning the toss.

The hosts, who had won both their earlier matches in the tournament, lost openers Ricky Ponting and David Warner within the first 10 overs.

Clarke was also dismissed trying to boost the run rate after making a brisk 38, which reduced Australia to 81 for three wickets.

Forrest and Hussey then added 98 runs for the fourth wicket to lay a solid foundation and Australia looked set for a 300-plus score from there.

But India pulled things back with some tight bowling and quick wickets in the last 10 overs to restrict Australia to a smaller total.

All-rounder Daniel Christian's run out, one of the three in the innings, in the 48th over also robbed Australia of some vital momentum in the closing overs.

India play Sri Lanka at the same venue in the fifth match of the triangular series on Tuesday.

Reuters

Comment 2 - 21 of 21

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  1. Dhoni, what a final over, cool as you like!

    From Matt O, on Mon 13 Feb 15:09

  2. Is p short for Peter as in Peter Foyle? Are you a Peter­ Foyle by any chance?

    From Dizzy, on Mon 13 Feb 11:54

  3. I thought Rickety Ponting batted really well to get to­ six runs. I hope pontific can get to double figures­ in the next match by scoring 4!! Well done to India,­ at last they are showing some fighting spirit while the­ Aussies living in their past glory!! I also thought­ the Aussies were very lucky to escape from jail against­ the Sri Lankan's.

    From P, on Mon 13 Feb 10:09

  4. Two balls is all you need to spare to beat the boastful­ Aussies!!

    Hey Ned, so when Aussies do down they­ go down in style do they? Its nice to know they can­ 'get beat, pick­ themselves up, dust themselves­ down, & get on with­ it, it takes pride, arrogance­ and boastfulness' that never ends!!

    From P, on Mon 13 Feb 9:58

  5. Dizzy

    Let's see what happens tomorrow.

    From BEN, on Mon 13 Feb 7:50

  6. John
    Crikey, I actually agree with you for a­ change...'forget about past performances,­ that's­ what the Aussies do so well, they get beat,­ pick­ themselves up, dust themselves down, & get on­ with­ it, it takes pride, arrogance, the will to win,­­ whatever...'

    From BEN, on Mon 13 Feb 7:49

  7. Dizzy

    You sure are a bad loser!! Get over it mate -­ Australia lost!! That don't make Australia bad or­ India Good.

    From BEN, on Mon 13 Feb 7:47

  8. I was watching the game . India wanted about 75 in 66­ balls -Sky asked the viewers to vote on who they­ thought would win ? About 68% said Australia 9% a tie­ and 23% India .MS Dhoni arrived a bit earlier and­ seemed to be taking things to easy and the asking rate­ increased . However as the end neared Dhoni hit the­ ball about 30 yards into the crowd and polished off the­ remaining runs with 2 balls left .
    If only we had a­ Dhoni he was the coolest man on the planet calm as you­ like while all around him panicked .
    I would vote him­ as "The no 1 coolest dude in the world" ­ England players take note "Dont panic"

    From alfredo, on Mon 13 Feb 7:25

  9. Ditsy I was only quoting Ned Kelly, take it up with him­ if he is wrong but that's a problem innit, two­ Australians disagreeing, whatever next?

    From MATTHEW ROBINSON, on Mon 13 Feb 6:08
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Yes matthew, when England have won four ODI world cups­ in cricket (or one), I'll take criticism of­ Australia's constant losing from you. I don't­ recall Australia ever getting whitewashed during their­ period at number one in the world, do you?

    From Dizzy, on Mon 13 Feb 5:56

  11. Dont do that india you are scaring our English Team :DD

    From asn, on Mon 13 Feb 5:53

  12. Ned the Aussies only forget about some past­ performances because as you say, what they have done­ well in recent years is to get beat.

    From MATTHEW ROBINSON, on Mon 13 Feb 4:33

  13. good to keep some interest alive in the competition­ though Pontings Indian summer seems to be over. I never­ doubted the aussie arrogance and will to win Ned,­ I'm sure it was present during this match.

    From MATTHEW ROBINSON, on Mon 13 Feb 1:21

  14. The last two matches (the one with Sri Lanka & now­ this one against India) has exposed the Australian­ bowling which is pretty mediocre. The batting is fine­ but the bowling end needs changes/improvement. Also­ congratulations to Indian for holding their nerve in­ chasing a big target; so unlike the nervous nellies­ they were during the test matches.

    From Anon, on Mon 13 Feb 0:31

  15. Well done and all to India but basically Australia were­ just complacent really. They should have won it but I­ suppose complacency will happen when you seem to be­ routinely thrashing a team.

    From Dizzy, on Sun 12 Feb 23:16

  16. Come on Sachin. That 100th century still awaits you :­ India and the whole world will rejoice !

    From Chaplin in Chains, on Sun 12 Feb 22:34

  17. Ha Ha Well done to India! had a bit of a battering­ lately but only way to go
    Give the aussies a stuffing­ next one as well!

    From jerry.nissen, on Sun 12 Feb 22:26

  18. thts good won by India ..keep it..and make intersting­ tri sries..hopefully good matches to watch in next few­ days..love to see in good rithem of Dhoni..well done..u­ deserve better ...great deal...love

    From kang, on Sun 12 Feb 21:57

  19. well India are the world champions and they played­ liked champions today. Their fielding especially was­ fantastic. Fielding was the main difference between the­ two sides. Australia surprisingly had a torrid time on­ the field. That six by Doni at the end was one of the­ biggest i've seen lol

    From Josh Davis, on Sun 12 Feb 20:35

  20. Well played India! you still have plenty of good­ cricket in oyou, the Aussies want to see a contest,­ keep it up, forget about past performances, that's­ what the Aussies do so well, they get beat, pick­ themselves up, dust themselves down, & get on with­ it, it takes pride, arrogance, the will to win,­ whatever...Ned Kelly

    From JOHN, on Sun 12 Feb 20:08
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