India bag 2 pts from abandoned opener

Rain played spoilsport as the opening match of the cricket tri-series between India and Australia was abandoned.

Rain played spoilsport as the opening match of the cricket tri-series between India and Australia was abandoned.

India batted poorly through a rain-interruption to be all out for 194 from their curtailed 45 overs and then their bowlers raised hopes as Australia lost three wickets on way to 51 from 7.2 overs before rain washed out the remainder of the match.

Ishant Sharma and S Sreesanth were breathing fire, managing lift and movement, which made Australia’s target of 141 runs from 26 overs off a revised Duckworth Lewis system not as straightforward as it looked at one time.

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Australia were 33 for one from four overs when the first interruption occurred and the resumption lasted only 3.2 overs before the final heavy downpour came.

Earlier India made a disappointing 194 from their 45 overs.

Both the teams got two points each from the abandoned tie.

India meet Sri Lanka in their next outing on Tuesday.

Earlier, India chose to bat first on winning the toss and only a late flourish in the final eight overs that yielded 66 runs brought them this far.

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Paceman Brett Lee with five for 27 was the main destroyer for the Australians.

India were 128 for six from 36 overs when rain stopped their innings for close to an hour before it relented and the match was reduced to 45 overs a side.