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Journalism of Courage
Rain forced the first one-dayer between India and Australia to be abandoned on Saturday after Michael Clarke hit a career-best 130 to give the touring world champions strong victory hopes.
India, replying to Australia’s 307 for seven, were nine for one in 2.4 overs when showers halted the day-night game. Although the rain stopped, a wet outfield forced the match to be called off by the umpires after a three-hour wait.
Australian left-arm Mitchell Johnson trapped Sachin Tendulkar leg before for nought in the second over before rain played spoilsport at the start of the seven-match series.
Australia were playing their first one-dayer since claiming an unprecedented World Cup hat-trick in West Indies in April. Skipper Ricky Ponting was sitting out Saturday’s game with a hamstring strain.
Clarke, 26, who hit a hundred on his test debut at the same ground in 2004, raised 144 runs for the fifth wicket with Brad Haddin, who contributed 69, and 73 runs for the next wicket with another injury replacement James Hopes (37).
He braved a painful blow to his right hand from left-arm pace bowler Rudra Pratap Singh early on and hit 10 fours and three sixes to help Australia recover from 90 for four in the 17th over after stand-in skipper Adam Gilchrist had opted to bat.
Clarke was run out off the last ball of the innings, leaving Australia with a bright chance to avenge their semi-final defeat in the Twenty20 World Cup against surprise champions India.
Indian new ball bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth struck three quick blows, removing Brad Hodge (0) and then opener Matthew Hayden (34) and Andrew Symonds (7) off successive overs.
He finished with three for 55 and left-arm Zaheer Khan took two for 64 but the Indian bowlers struggled against Clarke and Haddin, who helped pile up 87 runs in the last 10 overs.
The second one-dayer will be played in Kochi on Tuesday.
