Six memorable India-Australia ODI matches

FE Team | Published: November 17, 2023 21:08:29

AHMEDABAD, Nov 17 (AFP): Undefeated India and five-time champions Australia will clash in the World Cup final at the world's biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. The news agency Sport takes a look at six unforgettable encounters between the two powerhouses of cricket.
Desert Storm: April 22, 1998
Sachin Tendulkar unleashed his magic against Australia in Sharjah with a knock for the ages.
The batting great hit 143 off 131 balls to tear into the Australian bowling that included Damien Fleming, Michael Kasprowicz and spin wizard Shane Warne.
India went on to beat Australia in the final two days later with Tendulkar scoring another century.
Ricky rules: March 23, 2003
Skipper Ricky Ponting and Australia reigned supreme in the World Cup final in Johannesburg when they hammered India by 125 runs to lift their third trophy after 1987 and 1999.
Ponting hit an unbeaten 140 in Australia's 359-2 after openers Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist put on 105 inside 14 overs. The Indian batting was no match and were bowled out for 234 in 39.2 overs with Glenn McGrath picking three wickets.
Close call: November 5, 2009
Tendulkar kept up his form against Australia when he smashed 175, albeit in a losing cause in Hyderabad.
Ricky Ponting's Australia posted a mammoth 350-4 riding on big knocks from Shaun Marsh (112) and Shane Watson (93), but their bowlers withered under Tendulkar's onslaught. Despite Tendulkar's 141-ball blitz, and 59 by Suresh Raina, the rest of the batting collapsed and India fell short in the chase by three runs.
Knockout punch: March 4, 2011
The heavyweights clashed in the quarter-final of the 2011 World Cup in India and the hosts aced the knockout game despite Ricky Ponting's 104.
The win buoyed India, who went on to beat Pakistan in the semi-final and then Sri Lanka in the final to lift their second World Cup title after 1983.
Batting blitz: October 13, 2013
In a run feast at Jaipur's Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Virat Kohli stood tall with his unbeaten 100 off just 52 balls.
India's top three bulldozed the Australian bowling in their successful chase of 360 with Rohit Sharma top-scoring with an unbeaten 141 and putting on 176 runs with fellow opener Shikhar Dhawan (95).
Sweet revenge: March 26, 2015
Australia avenged their 2011 loss to India in Sydney four years later when they hammered M.S. Dhoni's team by 95 runs in the World Cup semi-final, courtesy of a Steve Smith century. Smith smashed 105 off 93 balls to guide Australia to 328-7 after skipper Michael Clarke elected to bat first.
Australia went on to humble New Zealand in the final for their record fifth World Cup crown.