When four of the five top order batsmen score heavily, the score is bound to be a colossal one. But for India, the batting pitch in Vadodara looks true which means India should back their strength, batting, even without Yuvraj Singh.
Electing to bat first in the first ODI match between India and Australia, Australia lost opener Shane Watson early, in the second over to Ashish Nehra off an lbw decision. However, Australian captain, Ricky Ponting, then consolidated with wicket keeper Tim Paine, continuing in the role for Australia in the absence of the injured Brad Haddin.
The duo shared a second wicket partnership of ninety-seven as India struggled to keep the runs down, especially with Praveen Kumar who looked completely inept for the situation. Paine’s half century was surpassed by Ponting’s seventy-nine run innings off eighty-five balls, both of them scoring a fair clip in boundaries as well.
The heartening bit for India was that Ishant Sharma appeared to have found some ground beneath his feet as his first seven overs went for just twenty-seven overs.
With the dismissal of Ponting to Ravindra Jadeja, who ironically looked better of the bowlers, with the score on three for 151 in the thirtieth over, the Australian campaign saw a new partnership between Cameron White and Michael Hussey worth seventy-six runs that crucially built on the early momentum.
White’s fifty-one runs were complemented by Hussey’s seventy-three as Australia pounced on Praveen’s misfortunes and ran Ishant ragged in his final three overs to raise a phenomenal total of 292 for eight, tall but not a target that cannot surpassed on this pitch.
India-Australia ODI Honour Series - Results, Dates, Venues and News in the Run Up!
