Gambhir's ton in vain as Australia clinch a high-scoring thriller

On a day when the Under-19 Indian cricket team eased their way into the semi-finals of the world cup, the big boys lost to Australia in a high-scoring thriller. The Indians were always chasing the game having conceded 100 runs in less than 12 overs. In fact, I think they did well to restrict Australia to 317/7 in 50 overs.

The Australian top order were under pressure to deliver and they did just that today in the manner they knew best-Attack!!!. This was probably the best wicket of the tournament for the Aussie top-order to come good and some lackluster Indian bowling early on helped the Aussies to get off to a flyer. Even though Gilchrist departed early, Haydos and Ponting decided they were going to play their natural game and took the attack to the Indian bowling. The first 50 came off just 38 balls while the second 50 was one better with 50 coming off just 37 balls. This start reminded me of the 2003 World Cup final where Aus got off to a similar start and went on to score a mammoth 359/2 at the end of 50 overs. It needed a brilliant bit of fielding from Rohit Sharma to break the Haydos-Ponting partnership. Hayden was run out for 54 with the score at 131 in the 20th over.

Clarke joined Ponting who was just beginning to find his touch. It was not Ponting's best innings but what makes it special is that it came at a time when the team and Ponting himself needed it the most. Like all great players, he made the start count and went on to reach his 26th ODI hundred. Symonds joined Ponting as Clarke was out trying to accelerate the scoring. Symonds showed why he picked up $1.35 M in the IPL players auction as he scored 59 off just 49 balls with six fours and two sixes. Though Australia lost wickets towards the end, the damage had already been done by the top and middle order to take them to a healthy 317/7 at the end of 50 overs.

The Indians needed to get off to a good start but Lee and company had other ideas. Sachin was out leg before to Lee in the first over and it was always going to be an uphill task for the Indians from there on. Sehwag hit 3 fours of one Lee over and I thought this was probably going to be Sehwag's day(he had a pretty decent outing with the ball conceding just 28runs from 6 overs and a wicket to his credit). But Sehwag didn't last too long as Stuart Clark got him caught behind. Rohit Sharma and Yuvraj Singh left in quick succession as India were reduced to 51-4 in the 11th over. At that stage I doubted whether this Indian batting would last the entire 50 overs.

Gambhir and Dhoni and later Uthappa proved that they were not going down without a fight. Even though Gambir started off shakily, I would rate this innings as the best in his career so far as it was an innings well compiled under pressure. Not only did he play the quicks and spinners well but he ran exceptionally between the wickets to get to his second hundred of the series. Uthappa played brilliantly too. He flat batted Lee for a stunning six over long on and that to me was probably the shot of the Indian innings. This kid seriously has tremendous power and hand-eye coordination. It was a just a pity that neither Gambhir nor Robin could finish the game off for India. Pathan and Bhajji also did their bit with the bat before getting out to Bracken and Lee respectively. Lee picked up three wickets to end up with match figures of 5 for 58 from 9.1 overs.

With just a day before the game against Srilanka, the top order batting along with the bowling of Sreesanth and Pathan would be the major concern for the Indian camp. For the Lankans, the game on tuesday is a must-win game to have any hopes of qualifying for the finals. On the other hand, the Indians will be hoping that they can get past the Lankans on Tuesday and secure a place in the finals of the tri-series. I am looking forward to yet another close contest on Tuesday.