India need to score 261 to reach the semi finals of the 2011 world cup. Big challenge ahead and like always the key will be the openers for India. Can Sachin Tendulkar get to his 100th ton? Can Sehwag blunt the pace of Shaun Tait and Brett Lee? Can Indian batsmen prove they are worthy champions? Big big moment for Indian cricket coming up next.
Brief scores - Australia 260 for 6 from 50 overs. Ricky Ponting 104, Brad Haddin 53 and David Hussey 38 off 26 balls. Zaheer 2/53, Ashwin 2/52 and Yuvraj 2/44.
Ponting was the hero with the bat for Australia. Great century from him and Brad Haddin made sure his good world cup continued with another impressive half century. Zaheer was the pick of the Indian bowlers and ended with 2 for 53 while Yuvraj also did more than his job with another stellar display with the ball as he finished with 2 for 44.
Over No.50 - Harbhajan given the cherry for the last over. He wasn't given the ball in that ill-fated last over in Nagpur against South Africa and there was plenty of talk afterwards. Now, can he show he is a really good bowler at the death? Unfortunately for him and for India, the answer is a firm no. The first ball is a horror show. Wide down the leg side that runs away for 5 wides. Bhajji never really recovered from that howler and plunder 13 runs of the last over to race to a challenging total. Bhajji once again fails to take wickets. He ends with 10-0-50-0. Australia finish with 260 for 6.
Over No.49 - Ashwin into his last and straightaway Ponting has his last shot of the match. Great hundred comes to an end thanks to the 'Palti' shot. What an inning from the Australian Captain. 104 from 118 balls. Mitchell Johnson comes in for the Aussies with 9 balls remaining. Ashwin again gets very creative. Slight pause before delivering his first ball to Johnson. Ashwin is a thinking bowler and he has once again showed why he is better than Bhajji. Just 4 off the 49th over. What a gem of an over by Ashwin. He ends with 10-0-52-2. Aus 246 for 6
Over No. 48 - Zaheer now into his last over. Australia have so far scored 38 runs in the four overs of batting powerplay and what a time to get those runs. India need to get these 3 overs away for less than 20 odd runs. Zaheer does the job at least from his side. Just 6 from the over. Precious little gem from the Indian spearhead. Zaheer completes his quota. 10-0-53-2. Aus 243 for 5
Ponting 100 from 113 balls and scored 7 fours and 1 six
Over No. 47 - Ashwin into his 9th over. Australia really looking to accelerate. David Hussey smashes Ashwin for a big six early in the over. And then Ricky Ponting gets to a tremendous century. His 5th world cup hundred and his first since February 2010. What a great inning and what a moment to get it. Champion stuff. He did it in 2003 final, when India last played Australia in a world cup match and now he has done it again. Australia race to 237 for 5.
Over No.46 - Zaheer into his 9th over now. This is the 3rd over of the batting powerplay. Australia have 30 balls left and they will certainly be looking at 40-50 from them if not more. Ponting comes out firing again in this over as he gets closer to a majestic century. There was an opportunity in the fifth ball of the over for Ponting to get there but he fails to put it away. Ponting moves to 98 and Aus to 226 for 5
Over No.45 - Harbhajan bowls the 2nd over of batting powerplay. Horrible over for Bhajji. All over the place. 10 runs from it. Ponting getting closer and closer to a great ODI hundred. He is on 94 . Aus 219 for 5.
Over No.44 - After a fairly long deliberation, Ponting calls for the batting powerplay. This should be intriguing contest here. Ponting well set while Australia only have the tail to follow. Decisive moment in this inning now. Zaheer to bowl. First ball loud shout for a leg before wicket but the ball was clearly pitching outside leg stump. India have no reviews left in any case. Ponting scratches his way to a single and takes the Aussies past 200-run mark. Zaheer in his elements early in the over before David Hussey cuts one superbly past point for a classy boundary. What an over it was. Morally won by Zak. Aus 209 for 5
Over No.43 - Ashwin back into the attack here. Looks like Dhoni is going for the kill now. If he can get a couple here, India can safely restrict Australia to around 230-240. Ponting keeps milking singles and is clearly looking at the last five overs for some attack. Just 4 from the over. Australia 199 for 5
Over No. 42 - Zaheer into the attack. Crucial over this. He needs do the magic again. Ponting and Zaheer have had a history of on-field and off-field spats. The last one had happened in the 2010 Mohali Test. Yes! Zaheer has the bragging rights now! Cameron white hits the ball straight into Zak's hand. White's poor run in the WC continues and once again Zaheer has done the trick for India. Whatta Playa!! Bad ball here half-volley on the legside dispatched to the fence. David Hussey begins well. 195-5
Over No. 41 - Sachin is back with the ball. It's a revolving door. Bowlers coming in and going out. Dhoni has been constantly changing his bowlers and field placements. Sachin delivers a long hop but Ponting doesn't capitalize on it. Just two runs. Sachin appeals! No reviews left now. Sorry India. Well that had pitched outside the line. 189-4
Over No. 40 - Munaf bowls. Australia look on track for a good score here unless India pull one back in the shape of Ponting. Some useless stuff from Munaf. He's giving free runs here. Ponting takes the gift most willingly in the shape of a boundary. That was too short. 185-4
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