India bowlers keep series alive
Tuesday, 9 October 2007
CHANDIGARH, Oct 8 (Cricinfo): India's bowlers fought back from a blistering opening by Matthew Hayden to snatch an eight-run victory and keep the seven-match series alive. Two of India's additions at Chandigarh, RP Singh and Murali Kartik, bowled superbly in the dying stages and Zaheer Khan held his nerve with a composed last over to secure the win.
Too much was left for James Hopes and Brett Lee, who had to find 22 runs from the last two overs and then 17 from Zaheer's final six balls. The 31 wides Australia conceded as India reached 291 were costly, but the real turning point was when RP Singh bowled Andrew Symonds for 75 in the 47th over of the chase. Singh followed up the very next ball by throwing down the stumps at the striker's end to run out Brad Hogg and the pressure was squarely on the visitors.
Zaheer only had to avoid a final-over blowout and despite an early scare when Hopes drove the first ball for four, he made most of his deliveries yorkers and gave the Australians little chance. Australia appeared to be cruising with ten overs remaining, as they had six wickets in hand, Symonds and Brad Hodge at the crease and 70 runs needed. But the out-of-form Hodge struggled to turn the strike over and the required run-rate gradually expanded.
India were largely kept in the game by their spinners, Kartik and Harbhajan Singh, who were important in building the pressure on Hodge and keeping Symonds away from the strike. Irfan Pathan was also difficult to get away and RP Singh's return after a miserable start was superb.
Harbhajan removed Hodge when Mahendra Singh Dhoni stumped him off a wide for 17 from 29 balls but the wicket of Symonds was the killer blow. He looked to have paced his innings to perfection, pushing singles and twos and finding the occasional boundary and setting himself for a late assault. However, he backed away trying to hit RP Singh through the off side when boundaries were needed and was bowled.
Hayden had built a solid base with 92 at a run a ball but the pressure began to mount when he departed. Like Symonds, Hayden scored his third consecutive half-century and gave Australia a terrific start as they raced to 106 for 1 from 15 overs. RP Singh was wayward and Zaheer costly as Hayden continued his remarkable 2007, falling just short of his sixth century since January 1.
He muscled boundaries all around the ground in his usual manner, walking at the bowlers and hoisting several balls over the infield. The new-ball bowlers gave him too much width and his best shots included a flick off his pads for four off Singh - it went along the ground all the way - and a classic Hayden clip over midwicket for six off Zaheer.
Too much was left for James Hopes and Brett Lee, who had to find 22 runs from the last two overs and then 17 from Zaheer's final six balls. The 31 wides Australia conceded as India reached 291 were costly, but the real turning point was when RP Singh bowled Andrew Symonds for 75 in the 47th over of the chase. Singh followed up the very next ball by throwing down the stumps at the striker's end to run out Brad Hogg and the pressure was squarely on the visitors.
Zaheer only had to avoid a final-over blowout and despite an early scare when Hopes drove the first ball for four, he made most of his deliveries yorkers and gave the Australians little chance. Australia appeared to be cruising with ten overs remaining, as they had six wickets in hand, Symonds and Brad Hodge at the crease and 70 runs needed. But the out-of-form Hodge struggled to turn the strike over and the required run-rate gradually expanded.
India were largely kept in the game by their spinners, Kartik and Harbhajan Singh, who were important in building the pressure on Hodge and keeping Symonds away from the strike. Irfan Pathan was also difficult to get away and RP Singh's return after a miserable start was superb.
Harbhajan removed Hodge when Mahendra Singh Dhoni stumped him off a wide for 17 from 29 balls but the wicket of Symonds was the killer blow. He looked to have paced his innings to perfection, pushing singles and twos and finding the occasional boundary and setting himself for a late assault. However, he backed away trying to hit RP Singh through the off side when boundaries were needed and was bowled.
Hayden had built a solid base with 92 at a run a ball but the pressure began to mount when he departed. Like Symonds, Hayden scored his third consecutive half-century and gave Australia a terrific start as they raced to 106 for 1 from 15 overs. RP Singh was wayward and Zaheer costly as Hayden continued his remarkable 2007, falling just short of his sixth century since January 1.
He muscled boundaries all around the ground in his usual manner, walking at the bowlers and hoisting several balls over the infield. The new-ball bowlers gave him too much width and his best shots included a flick off his pads for four off Singh - it went along the ground all the way - and a classic Hayden clip over midwicket for six off Zaheer.