India vs. Australia – 2nd Innings – 0 to 20 overs Report
The Indian bowlers did a commendable job keeping the Australian batsmen under constant pressure with the Australian team managing to reach a relatively insecure total of 261 runs. This meant that India’s opening pair of seasoned veteran Sachin Tendulkar
and Virender Sehwag had a job on their hands as they looked to get their side off to a good start.
Brett Lee who gave an inspired performance against Pakistan, looked to replicate his bowling against the Indians. Sehwag however had the first laugh as he had the ball over the boundary on the third ball. The crowd’s roar personified the tension on the pitch.
Tendulkar got in on the act in the next over as Shaun Tait found himself smashed for two boundaries in an over that cost his side 11 runs. India had made their intentions clear.
Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson replaced Lee and Tait in the Australian bowling attack as Captain Ricky Pointing looked to get an early breakthrough.
The move paid off as Watson took Australia’s first wicket when Michael Hussey took a simple catch to send Virender Sehwag back to pavilion for 15 runs.
Gautham Gambir was the next man in for the Indians as Tendulkar continued his assault on the Australian bowlers. The two built up a partnership as Pointing brought in another change in his bowling pair.
Brett Lee and Shaun Tait were reintroduced into the bowling attack but the Indian batsmen remained as resilient as ever as by the end of the 18th over their run rate of 5.22 runs per over had the side at 94 runs for the loss of only one wicket.
Jason Krejza replaced Brett Lee but not before Sachin Tendulkar, the tournament’s all time leading run scorer had another half century to add to his already impressive tally. The ovation he received from the crowd was deafening yet those roars were soon
silenced when Tendulkar was caught behind. Wicket Keeper Brad Haddin did well to hold on to the ball as Tait had his wicket.
Virat Kohli made his way on to the crease with his side needing 167 runs in just under 32 overs. Gautham Gambir had settled himself and was steadily building up an innings that was threatening the Australian’s 13 year dominance in the tournament.
Ricky Pointing was more than a little concerned as he desperately searched for a wicket to get his side back in the game with India closing in on a semi final berth.