Melbourne: India let Australia off the hook and allowed them to end the first day in the first Test at 277 for six in the first innings at stumps at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) here Monday.
Debutant opener Ed Cowan (68) and under-pressure Ricky Ponting (68) hit half-centuries in their crucial 113-run third wicket stand while Indian pacers Umesh Yadav (3-96) and Zaheer Khan (2-49) did the damage. Test vice captain Brad Haddin was on 21 along with Peter Siddle (34) at stumps.
India had the whiphand soon after tea, when Zaheer dismissed skipper Michael Clarke (61) and Mike Hussey off successive deliveries and two overs later off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (1-71) removed Cowan to leave Australia reeling at 214 for six. But Haddin and Siddle saved the day with their unfinished 63-run partnership for the seventh wicket.
Clarke made a brave decision to bat first despite heavy overnight rains, and openers Cowan and David Warner (37) weathered a difficult first hour before settling down for 46-run opening stand. They batted well in tandem but had contrasting approaches. While Cowan was watchful, Warne was forceful.
A brief rain delay broke Warner's concentration and he was caught behind gloving a short ball from Yadav's first delivery after the break. Marsh survived just six balls before pushing hard at a Yadav delivery outside off for an easy catch.
At 46/2, Ponting walked in and was soon greeted with a bouncer from Yadav that struck on his helmet grille trying to pull a ball which then almost dropped onto his stumps. Ponting, who came into this match struggling to retain his place in the side, settled down soon and hit back at his detractors with a crafty half-century.
Ponting's balance and timing were superb, perhaps helped by last week's batting camp. Ponting fell for 62, caught at second slip off a Yadav delivery that moved away from him and induced a sliced bat.
Cowan was cautious in his approach in both the sessions and allowed Ponting to take charge in the second. They ran well between the wickets and their 113-run stand came off 200 balls. At a time when the partnership grew strong, Yadav got a delivery to rear up menacingly forcing Ponting to edge it to V.V.S. Laxman in the slip.
Cowan and Clarke then added a 46-run stand for the fourth wicket as Australia went past the 200-run mark. But three wickets in four overs, including two in successive deliveries, swung the game in India's favour as Australia slumped to 214/6 from 205/3.
Clarke was out first, chopping Zaheer's delivery onto his stumps and in the next delivery the veteran Hussey was dismissed for a golden duck caught behind to a ball that rose sharply on him but appeared to miss his bat and gloves.
Two overs later, Cowan's five-hours gritty knock came to an end when he was caught behind off Ashwin. Cowan's innings was the second highest for an Australian opener on debut since Wayne Phillips' 159 at the WACA in November 1983.
The pressure will now be on Hussey to retain his side in the team once Shane Watson returns to the side from injury. Both Ponting and Hussey were under tremendous pressure for the first time in their career. While Ponting might have assured his place in the side for some time the pressure will increase on Hussey.
Friday 30 December 2011
Tuesday 6 December 2011
Rohit Sharma smashes 95, but India lose third ODI against West Indies
Ahmedabad: Rohit Sharma's valiant 95 went in vain as the West Indies defeated India by 16 runs in the third One-Day International here Monday and kept the series alive.
Chasing a target of 261 runs, India again fumbled at the top before Sharma guided the innings scoring his third fifty of the series. Wickets kept falling at the other end. Sharma was run out to a sharp pick and throw by West Indies captain Darren Sammy, and it looked it was all but over for India.
But Abhimanyu Mithun (23) and Umesh Yadav (11) raised visions of a victory with some scintillating hitting. The two added 28 runs for the last wicket before Mithun was dismissed lbw to Ravi Rampaul, who took four wickets. India folded up in 46.5 overs.
It was the first victory for the West Indies team on this tour. The series is now wide open with India leading 2-1 and two more matches to go.
India had a bad start again with opener Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir falling to Rampaul in successive balls for a golden duck. Sehwag's opening partner Parthiv Patel (39) and Virat Kohli (20),however, added 25 runs for the third wicket before debutant Sunil Narine (2/34) trapped Kohli lbw.
Marlon Samuels bowled Parthiv and Rampaul dismissed Suresh Raina (2), caught behind. Ravindra Jadeja (11) did not stay for long and soon India were left reeling at 105/6.
Sharma, who got away with a life when Sammy dropped an easy catch at gully, together with Ravichandran Ashwin added 91 runs to stabilise the innings.
Sharma, who has been a revelation in the series, hit 10 well-timed fours and a six. He was out to direct throw from Sammy.
Earlier, the West Indies smashed 73 runs in the last five overs to post a competitive 260/5.
All-rounder Andre Russell and captain Darren Sammy took the Indian pacers to the cleaners in the death overs after Marlon Samuels scored a patient 58 at the top of the order.
Russell's 40 off 18 balls and Sammy's 41 off 17 turned things around for the visitors, who are looking for their maiden win of the tour.
Their brutal attack also exposed the inexperience of the likes of Umesh Yadav and Abhimanyu Mithun, who gave away 43 runs in the last 12 balls.
Mithun, playing his first match of the series and in hunt to be Praveen Kumar's replacement on the Australia tour, conceded 47 runs in seven overs. His last over went for 23 with Sammy hitting him for consecutive sixes over long on and cover. Yadav leaked 75 runs from nine overs.
The West Indies also got off to a bad start as they lost in-form opener Lendl Simmons (1) early on and found scoring tough for as long as the 40th over.
Pollard (29) once again got out after a promising start with Ravindra Jadeja taking a blinder in the deep off Vinay Kumar (2/39).
Darren Bravo (26) and Samuels had shared 55 runs for the third wicket before the stylish southpaw was forced to retire at the end of the 26th over.
Chasing a target of 261 runs, India again fumbled at the top before Sharma guided the innings scoring his third fifty of the series. Wickets kept falling at the other end. Sharma was run out to a sharp pick and throw by West Indies captain Darren Sammy, and it looked it was all but over for India.
But Abhimanyu Mithun (23) and Umesh Yadav (11) raised visions of a victory with some scintillating hitting. The two added 28 runs for the last wicket before Mithun was dismissed lbw to Ravi Rampaul, who took four wickets. India folded up in 46.5 overs.
It was the first victory for the West Indies team on this tour. The series is now wide open with India leading 2-1 and two more matches to go.
India had a bad start again with opener Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir falling to Rampaul in successive balls for a golden duck. Sehwag's opening partner Parthiv Patel (39) and Virat Kohli (20),however, added 25 runs for the third wicket before debutant Sunil Narine (2/34) trapped Kohli lbw.
Marlon Samuels bowled Parthiv and Rampaul dismissed Suresh Raina (2), caught behind. Ravindra Jadeja (11) did not stay for long and soon India were left reeling at 105/6.
Sharma, who got away with a life when Sammy dropped an easy catch at gully, together with Ravichandran Ashwin added 91 runs to stabilise the innings.
Sharma, who has been a revelation in the series, hit 10 well-timed fours and a six. He was out to direct throw from Sammy.
Earlier, the West Indies smashed 73 runs in the last five overs to post a competitive 260/5.
All-rounder Andre Russell and captain Darren Sammy took the Indian pacers to the cleaners in the death overs after Marlon Samuels scored a patient 58 at the top of the order.
Russell's 40 off 18 balls and Sammy's 41 off 17 turned things around for the visitors, who are looking for their maiden win of the tour.
Their brutal attack also exposed the inexperience of the likes of Umesh Yadav and Abhimanyu Mithun, who gave away 43 runs in the last 12 balls.
Mithun, playing his first match of the series and in hunt to be Praveen Kumar's replacement on the Australia tour, conceded 47 runs in seven overs. His last over went for 23 with Sammy hitting him for consecutive sixes over long on and cover. Yadav leaked 75 runs from nine overs.
The West Indies also got off to a bad start as they lost in-form opener Lendl Simmons (1) early on and found scoring tough for as long as the 40th over.
Pollard (29) once again got out after a promising start with Ravindra Jadeja taking a blinder in the deep off Vinay Kumar (2/39).
Darren Bravo (26) and Samuels had shared 55 runs for the third wicket before the stylish southpaw was forced to retire at the end of the 26th over.
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