India fall short despite Gambhir century
A sparkling century from Gautam Gambhir could not save India from an
18-run defeat at the hands of Australia in their tri-series match here
on Sunday.
A win would have secured India a berth in the finals, but they were
always struggling at the crease after several Australian batsmen
returned to form in posting 317 for seven.
India chased bravely and made 299 from 49.1 overs, the highest total
ever by side batting second at the SCG, but it wasn’t enough with Brett
Lee taking 5-58 for the home side.
With Ricky Ponting making 124, Australia, choosing to bat first on a
docile wicket, posted the highest score of the series and then made
early inroads with the ball. India were always struggling after star
opener Sachin Tendulkar fell in the second over before they slumped to
51 for four.
Gambhir and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni revived Indian hopes by
putting on 98 for the fifth wicket, before the latter was caught behind
off the bowling of Brett Lee for 36.
Robin Uthappa and Gambhir then kept the score ticking over by putting
on 67, but India’s hopes suffered a fatal blow when the centurion’s
brave knock came to an end when he was stumped by Adam Gilchrist, who
completed six dismissals for 113.
It left India needing 102 more off just 65 balls and although Uthappa
bravely kept the chase going with a dashing 51, the required run rate
was just too high.
SYDNEY, AFP
AUSTRALIA INNINGS
A. Gilchrist c Dhoni B Gilchrist 16
M. Hayden run out 54
R. Ponting c Pathan b Sreesanth 124
M. Clarke c R. Sharma b Sehwag 31
A. Symonds b Sharma 59
M. Hussey not out 15
J. Hopes run out 4
B. Lee run out 0
EXTRAS (5lb, 8w, 1nb) 14
TOTAL (for seven wickets) 317
FALL: 21 (Gilchrist), 131 (Hayden), 196 (Clarke), 296 (Symonds),
304 (Ponting), 317 (Hopes), 317 (Lee).
Bowling: Sreesanth 8-0-58-2, I. Sharma 10-0-65-1 (1w),
Pathan 9-0-73-0 (2w, 1nb), H. Singh 9-0-50-0 (1w),
Sehwag 6-0-27-1 (1w), Y. Singh 8-0-39-0.
INDIA INNINGS
V. Sehwag c Gilchrist b Clark 17
S. Tendulkar lbw Lee 2
G. Gambhir st Gilchrist b Hogg 113
R. Sharma c Gilchrist b Bracken 1
Y. Singh c Gilchrist b Clark 5
M.S. Dhoni c Lee by Gilchrist 36
R. Uthappa c Hussey b Lee 51
I. Pathan c Bracken b Hopes 22
H. Singh c Gilchrist b Lee 20
S. Sreesanth not out 3
I. Sharma b Lee 2
EXTRAS (6b, 5lb, 12w, 4nb) 27
TOTAL 299
FALL: 3 (Tendulkar), 45 (Sehwag), 46 (R. Sharma), 51 (Y. Singh),
149 (Dhoni), 216 (Gambhir), 257 (Pathan), 290 (H. Singh)
290 (Uthappa), 299 (Sharma).
Bowling: Lee 9.1-1-58-5 (3nb, 3w), Bracken 10-0-53-1 (1w),
Clark 10-0-55-2 (8w), Hopes 6-0-27-1, Hogg 9-0-62-1 (1nb), Clarke 5-0-33-0. |
