Australia captain George Bailey built on a century opening stand even as
wickets fell around him, and his lower order finished strongly to set
India a target of 305. Given the slow and slightly uneven pitch, it
appears to be a difficult chase, unless the ball comes on much better in
the evening.
The visitors had an excellent start in the T20 as well, but lost too
many wickets and failed to take advantage at the death. They seemed to
follow the same pattern today, threatening to waste a 110-run
first-wicket partnership between Aaron Finch and Phillip Hughes by
losing regular wickets. Bailey, however, held the innings together with a
smart, busy knock, but became the seventh man to fall with the score on
264 in the 47th over. Just when it seemed Australia had lost all their
steam, the lower order looted 38 off India's seamers in the last three
overs to push their side over the 300-mark. Ishant Sharma suffered the
most, going for 56 in seven overs, while Vinay Kumar went for 68 in
nine.
Overwhelmingly favouring the on side, Bailey was always on the lookout
for singles and twos and also quick to pull, sweep and cut, especially
against the spinners. He arrived when Australia had slipped from 110 for
0 to 113 for 2, but didn't waste any time to get going. Australia could
have easily got tied up by the spinners had they hesitated, but Bailey
looked purposeful as soon as he arrived.
Glenn Maxwell played another quick cameo after a hard-hitting 27 in the
T20, but having already hit Vinay for a couple of sixes in the 38th
over, mishit one to cover. Fortunately for Australia, Bailey shepherded
them past 250 before exiting.
Before their captain, Finch and Hughes took their time to get in and
then accelerated to leave India looking flat. Finch, after his 89 in
Rajkot, was looking in control with another powerful half-century before
he mishit Yuvraj Singh to long-off.
India's seamers bowled a tight line initially, and Australia weren't
able to attack, resulting in a start of 13 for 0 in six overs. They
started to make up from the seventh over. Finch, playing on his IPL home
ground, had got some measure of the pitch by now and lofted, drove and
pulled Bhuvneshwar Kumar for three boundaries. Australia began getting
more and more width, and prospered. Finch played the cut intelligently
given the lack of pace, preferring placement over power and often
punishing Ishant Sharma either side of point. Hughes crunched several
fours through the covers. He was also put down on 32 at point by Virat
Kohli as he drove at Ishant.
Like in the T20, Dhoni turned to part-timer Kohli. Finch took him for a
four and a six to reach his fifty. Australia were galloping now but the
breakthrough came for India immediately after the first drinks break.
Having nudged Ravindra Jadeja through vacant leg slip for a couple the
previous ball, Hughes repeated the shot next delivery, only to find
conventional slip had moved down the on side to hold onto a sharp
chance.
Shane Watson strode in and tried to impose himself early, but mishit his
fourth delivery straight to long-on. It was Yuvraj's first ball, and
also his first ODI wicket since the 2011 World Cup. He would likely be
called upon with the bat as well if India are to get anywhere near 305
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