India 258/8 after 50 overs( Tendulkar 91, Yuvraj Singh 38, Dhoni 36)
India after winning the toss elected to bat, they got off to an excellent start and lost their first wicket(Uthappa 30) at 94 runs of 20.5 overs, Tendulkar had a third wicket partnership with Yuvraj of 54 which took the score to 3/175 the platform was laid for a big total and when Dhoni and Sachin were batting it seemed India will post an Imposing total and the shut the doors for their opponents, but Sachin got out at 91 in the 40th over when the score was 205, Sachin was unlucky not to complete his 2nd century in this series, the partner ship between Dhoni and IK Pathan lost the momentum for India it started in the 42nd over and lasted for 6.1 overs and only 28 runs were scored of these precious overs the first five overs of this partnership only yeilded 16 runs, with wickets in hand these players should have played more aggressively, I think India lost a opportunity there to completely shut out their opponents. In the end India set a target of 259 for Australia which is a good score, but India are missing their star performer Ishaant who sustained a finger injury in the last match.
Although Australia rarely loses at Gabba but its a win or go home situation for them tonight in this high pressure series, their pride is at stake their top order has betrayed them on many occasions in this series, and two of their star performers Ponting and Symonds are yet to fire in this series both are averaging 21 and 16 respectively.
Their coach has openly admitted that the star studded batting line up is running low on confidence, and the mental side of the game is letting them down.
If Australia loses tonight it will have to live with accusations it became distracted by the rolling verbal slugfest with Harbhajan Singh, the constant talk over the massive deals the Australians have signed with the Indian Premier League and the disappointment at CA’s lack of support for Symonds in the Monkeygate affair.It will be the first time when the Australians will not only lose the mind games but also the on field game, their strategy to embroil visiting players in controversies fired back as Harbhajan Singh was fully supported by his team mates and his board as a result he was fearless through out the series, he counter attacked and after each incident he gave a better performance.
Australia are 20/2 right now and it seems it will be a sad farewell for Gilchrist and Hogg.
A wonderful and amzing series of cricket . Congratulations to India on their victory as they take the CB series 08. The youth strategy is really proving the reults of the Indian team in the last year.If you compare where the team was last year it was a completely different story . But new captain and a bunch of talented younsters have changed the fate of Indian cricket . The performances from the likes of Tendulkur, Gmabhir , Dhoni and Sharma have beeen instrumental throughout the competetion.
The day and moments belong to India but let me take a paragraph to acknowledge the great wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist. He has provided entertainment and joy for the cricket followers in the last decade or so and is probably rated as the best wicket keeper of all time.
Another tribute to one of the finest sportsmen among the notorious Australians.
Adam Gilchrist played his last International match against India on Sunday and walked away without waiting for the Umpires’ decision when he snicked behind!!
How many players would do that?
That is tribute enough.
As I had already written yesterday on BBC’s 606, the only way to reply the Australians’ sledging is to beat them in their own field.
That is what the Indians have done!! And all credit to that great batsman Sachin Tendulkar who proved once again, if proof is needed, that he is the best batsman after Sir Donald Bradman to play cricket.
Congratulations to India!!
It was a thrilling match today, a bit similar to the T20 final. Sachin, P.Kumar, Bhajji all played well today, as did Dhoni. India have played as a team, unlike Aus in the CB series and the result is there to be seen.
The major cause of concern for Aus is their batting, which looks very strong on paper. Their bowling and fielding remains good though.
IMO, Aus still remain a very good side. But their aura of invincibility seems to have vanished.
India finally prevailed over Australia just by 9 runs,it was an exciting finish, Hopes kept Aussie hopes alive till the last over but could not deliver the final punch.
Ponting failed to find his form once again, all summer long he never got a chance to focus on his batting problems kept on knocking at his door,Ipl, monkeygate,Harbhajan-symonds issue and the Pakistan tour,all these distractions affected his performance, but if there is anything to be blamed it is their cockiness. Its hightime that they do some introspection and start focusing on their game. In my opinion after this series Aussie players should stop thinking of themselves as royalties,their invincible status has recieved a serious blow and they have been dethroned.
Australia only needs one good over,30 runs are required from 18 balls, Hope should get the maximum strike.Johnson can also bat, both Kumar and Bhaji have bowled their 10 overs now who will bowl the last two overs.Sresaanth should bowl one and the last one Pathan should bowl.
Got em!Lee is cleaned by P Kumar he is having a good match, but Australia’s Hope is still alive and is at the crease.He has played a good innings.
The match is not over Nadeem, Australia can still win the RR is only 7.5 and Australia has 5 wickets in hand.
India must take a wicket here, or else we will see a third final.
Symonds Gone! Harbhajan gets him again two crucial blows in Harbhajan’s over and Australia are in deep trouble,Harbhajan is killing them.
My wish was granted, ML Hayden run out 55 (68b 7×4 0×6) SR: 80.88.
India desperately needs a wicket at this stage otherwise the match will slip away.It’s 115/3 Hayden and Symonds both have opened up and are scoring at a good rate a lot of batting is still to come the match will go down to the wire.