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Rediff.com  » Cricket » Images: India vs Australia, 6th ODI, Guwahati
This article was first published 14 years ago

Images: India vs Australia, 6th ODI, Guwahati

Last updated on: November 8, 2009 17:17 IST

Image: Sachin Tendulkar
Photographs: Reuters

India decided to bat first after winning the toss, but failed to capitalise on the opportunity.

They wilted under the pressure of some accurate Aussie bowling.

Sachin Tendulkar (10), after his magnificent 175 at Hyderabad, fell cheap, caught and bowled by Bollinger. Earlier, India suffered a double blow in the first over losing Delhi duo of Virender Sehwag (6) and Gautam Gambhir (0).

The hosts lost Sehwag of the fourth ball of the match when he was cleaned up by Johnson.

Dhoni, Jadeja steady the ship

Image: The Australian team celebrates the dismissal of Yuvraj Singh

Doug Bollinger was the most successful bowler for the visitors with figures of five for 35 while Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson chipped in with three for 39 and two for 27 respectively.

Later, Johnson had accounted for Suresh Raina (0), caught at short mid-on by Nathan Hauritz.

Raina's wicket was preceded by Yuvraj Singh (6) who was rather unfortunate to have accidentally pushed the ball back to the stumps while trying to get his bat back to the crease. Bollinger was the bowler who got lucky as a result.

Then, skipper MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja came in and steadied the ship before Dhoni was wrongly given out LBW.

Praveen propels India at the death

Image: Praveen Kumar

Ravindra Jadeja (57) and Praveen Kumar (54 not out) ensured the Indian total had a semblance of respectability with a 74-run partnership for the eighth wicket.

Kumar, who smashed Clint McKay for 14 in his final over including a six and a four, remained unbeaten on an aggressive 51-ball 54, his maiden half-century in ODIs, thereby ensuring he has a tad less pressure when he comes in to bowl.

Watson gives Australia good start

Image: Shane Watson

Despite losing an early wicket, Australia scored at a good rate in the early overs. Watson, in particular was in his attacking best, hitting four boundaries early on.

Harbhajan Singh gave India glimmer of a hope with wickets of Shane Watson (49) and Ricky Ponting [ Images ] (25) in succcessive overs.

Harbhajan strikes in successive overs

Image: Harbhajan Singh and Gautam Gambhir celebrate the wicket of Ricky Ponting

Watson fell on 49 again, after his similar effort in Mohali, in the final ball before the first drinks break.

In the next over, Harbhajan induced an edge of Ponting from one that spun sharply and Suresh Raina made no mistake at leg slip.

Hussey guides Aussies home

Image: Adam Voges and Mike Hussey celebrate their victory

Besides Harbhajan Singh's twin-strike, Raina and Jadeja also got considerable turn. Consequently, the Australia scoring rate reduced significantly as both Michael Hussey (22) and Cameron White (24) began to tread cautiously, taking fewer risks.

The duo's unbroken fourth wicket stand of 45, that included only a single boundary, ensured the visitors inched closer without any fuss.

White fell to Raina with Australia needing just 28 runs. Then, Voges and Hussey played without taking any risk to register a 6-wicket win and seal the series 4-2.