Picture Perfect

James Hopes was inconsolable. His maiden one-day fifty could have been worth a century, even more from Australia’s point of view.

James Hopes was inconsolable. His maiden one-day fifty could have been worth a century, even more from Australia’s point of view. But that feeble hit to short mid-wicket off Irfan Pathan’s bowling dashed it all. Chasing 258, needing 13 off the last six balls, Australia managed just 249 with two balls remaining. As the victorious Team India burst into celebrations, the tiring tournament ended in Brisbane itself.

For all the controversies that masked some classic cricket action on this tour, the Gabba pitch allowed a platform to put it back on stage. It was a thrilling capsule under lights, one that could have gone either way.

The way the Indian batsmen played the last 10 overs was way down from the great start provided by Sachin Tendulkar’s 91. And Australia’s rally later in the innings made for a sizzling chase, through some great swing bowling by Man of the Match Praveen Kumar.

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Hopes was the last man out on an 80-ball 63 (with four boundaries and a six in the penultimate over off Sreesanth). He tried to carry on the good work of Matthew Hayden (who hit his 36th ODI half-century earlier) in a fourth-wicket partnership of 89 with Andrew Symonds.

Harbhajan in the mix

Harbhajan Singh, the man of the tournament for several reasons, was once again in the focus when he collected a throw from Yuvraj to dislodge the bails with Hayden still short of his crease.

Two balls later, the wily off-spinner foxed Symonds plumb in front with a quicker delivery and Australia were 123 for 5.

Australia’s rebuilding phase had come after Praveen had cut short Adam Gilchrist’s farewell to just three deliveries and after Ponting had failed to come off his horrendous summer form. Michael Clarke was also nipped in the bud and it was three down for just 32.

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A threatening pact of 76 between Hopes and Michael Hussey provided some nerve-wracking moments, but it ended with him caught behind for 44, Sreesanth forcing him to edge to Dhoni.

Mitchell Johnson was his second victim after a bristling first spell where he was unlucky to miss Hayden twice in the slip region.

Soft dismissal

The late order in the Indian batting had failed to live up to the early surge. Stocked with plenty of wickets and a set of firebrand batters, India added a mere 55 runs in the last set of 10 overs.

The slide started immediately after Tendulkar’s soft dismissal. It was in contrast to his colossal 176-minute stay at the crease.

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His opening partner Robin Uthappa made another dedicated attempt to curb his attacking instincts to stitch a 94-run stand that negated Brett Lee’s first spell before turning it on against Stuart Clark.

Tendulkar hit two straight drives off Clark before turning his attention to Johnson to bring up his 89th half-century (70 balls). Uthappa got out to a leading edge and Gautam Gambhir fell to an ambitious shot at long-on off. Part-time spinner Clarke returned with the best figures and scalped three wickets, including Tendulkar’s.

Yuvraj Singh started with a majestic six over long-on and was timing the ball perfectly between gaps, but hit a loose ball from Symonds to deep mid-wicket abruptly end his innings. Tendulkar slowed down a bit with his niggling groin strain and approaching century.

He departed at 205 in the 40th over, and even with Dhoni at the crease, India failed to pick up momentum.

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There was a sense of fear going into the break, given the flat wicket. However, in the end, it proved just out of the reach for the hosts.

Highlights

INDIA

• 20.5: Uthappa (30) goes, popping one from Stuart Clark to mid-off. Hopes races around to take a straightforward catch, but the opener has done his job

• 34.6: Yuvraj Singh pulls a short one from Symonds straight down Hayden’s throat at deep midwicket. Yuvraj was batting well and the Indian innings loses momentum

• 39.2: Tendulkar goes in the 90s again, coming down the track and chipping one towards Ponting at short mid-on, who takes a brilliant catch. The last 10 overs yield only 50 runs

Australia

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• 0.3: Surprise choice with the new ball, Praveen Kumar scalps Gilchrist in his first over. He follows it up with Ponting’s wicket in his third. Australia in dire straits at 8 for 2 after 2.3

• 25.4: Michael Clarke falls early, but Symonds and Hayden put together a partnership that threatens to take the match away from India. Then Hayden’s run out for 55 and Symonds falls to Harbhajan in the same over

• 49.4: Australia stay with the chase despite losing wickets… and the unlikely hero is James Hopes. With nine to get off three balls though, he holes out to mid-wicket. It’s all over…

Scoreboard Australia vs India Brisbane March 4

India

R Uthappa c Hopes b Clark 30

S Tendulkar c Ponting b Clarke 91

G Gambhir c Johnson b Clarke 15

Yuvraj Singh c Hayden b Symonds 38

MS Dhoni c Clarke b Bracken 36

R Sharma c Symonds b Clarke 2

I Pathan b Bracken 12

Harbhajan Singh lbw b Lee 3

P Kumar c Ponting b Bracken 7

P Chawla not out 6