Ind Aus ODI 4: India Miss A Golden Chance To Go 3-1 Up!

Everyone was focussed on Sachin Tendulkar’s dubious dismissal that denied him the 17000 ODI run mark. But really it was Virender Sehwag’s whose dismissal proved to be the end of India’s dominance in the entire innings as India lost the fourth ODI of the India Australia ODI series by twenty-four runs in Mohali.

On Sehwag’s dismissal, it appeared that he was not been out of form but rather has failed to push on despite giving India some spark filled impetus on more than one occasion since his return. The day proved no different as India restricted Australia to 250 on a track that promised much more.
The way Sehwag kept whacking the ball, Mitchell Johnson’s birthday was in tatters. Sachin Tendulkar did get to forty but it was Sehwag who had scored much faster and comfortably outbeat the maestro.
But Doug Bollinger is leaving no opportunity to chance. The change in bowling showed an immediate effect as Bollinger strangled Sehwag with four dot deliveries, forcing Sehwag to take uncharacteristic action.
The importance of Sehwag’s dismissal could be seen on the delighted face of Ricky Ponting, who was perhaps harbouring nightmares of the possibility of a humiliating defeat had Sehwag continued.
India kept losing wickets to leave themselves in precarious situations, especially with the dismissal of Yuvraj Singh. But while Yuvraj and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the Indian captain, was able to string together a tremendous partnership in Delhi, that one elusive partnership let India down.
Although requiring at just about a run a ball, India’s bane lay in the loss of wickets. Harbhajan Singh and Praveen Kumar once again revived hopes of a Vadodara like innings, but the blitzkrieg was short lived.

All in less than forty-seven overs, India clearly underperformed with the bat to score 226, irony given that India had one of the best days in the field and despite Ishant Sharma’s continuing troubles, pegged the Australians back in the tremendous position.
Had India converted this match into victory, the 3-1 score would have been deflating for the Australians. The 2-2 scorecard now gives Ponting hope.

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