Story England's Journey to WorldCup-Ashes06-07 : 3rd Test (Perth)

[aussie1st]

Not a bad total would have been good if Clarke or Symonds went on a bit more.

 

[m_vaughan]

Thats a tough target to chase for India, but it is getable.

 

[gamerkid22]

India already in trouble​

Indians came out in the middle to chase a big target of 279 but it seems like the batsmen were under pressure even before the 1st ball was bowled. Tendulkar was first to take strike to G.Mcgrath and the crowd was behind India all the time. G.McGrath came steaming in and Tendulkar left the ball alone . Both Tendulkar and Sehwag started their innings calmly by taking singles . Sehwag then smashed Brett Lee through the covers and it looked like India are upto the task. But it was very difficult to get McGrath away as he was bowling a tight line and length and batsmen were facing some problems to score against him. He bowled one back of the length to Sehwag and Sehwag went for the drive with no foot movement at all and managed to snick that and Gilchrist took an easy regulation catch . Australia drew first blood inside 5 overs and now pressure was on India as Sehwag departed cheaply.

Sehwag departs

Dhoni was the next batsman for India and it was indeed a good move by them as India needed quick runs at this stage. But McGrath didnt allow to get the batsmen away . He was bowling his with good rythm and even Tendulkar was facing problems. He was asking questions with each and every delivery he bowled . Even the genius of Tendulkar played and missed many times. Dhoni was there to score quickly but he failed to connect bat on ball maybe he needs some time to get going. McGrath bowled a shot ball to Tendulkar which he tried to hook away but he was hit on the shoulder which was indeed hurting but he never looked back and was ready again to face the next ball. Mcgrath was keeping him quite for a while and mostly he caught him in the crease on the backfoot.

McGrath bolwing well

After spending few time at the crease runs started to flow for India . Sachin was timing the ball to perfection now and only Brett Lee was going for runs . However Dhoni also started to play his shots and McGrath was not spared this time as Dhoni lofted one over the infield for a boundary. Tendulkar showed his class with his perfect footwork and timing . His trademark boundaries were wonderful to watch . Soon India started scoring at a faster rate than they started and now it looked like they are upto the task to chase 279.

Runs starting to flow

But Australia came back strongly in the match as G.McGrath picked the important wicket of S.Tendulkar . McGrath kept on teasing Tendulkar by bowling the away swingers and was encouraging him to go for the drive but then he bowled one on the offstump and the ball swung late . Tendulkar wnet of the frontfoot but the ball got the outside edge of the bat and Gilchrist took another catch . Australia got the important breakthrough and India are already in troble having lost Tendulkar for just 18 runs.

Tendulkar's Wicket

McGrath's Pitchmap

India : 58/2 (15 overs ) Run Rate : 3.86
M.Dhoni :Not Out 23(45) 1 Four
R.Dravid :Not Out 7(14) 1 Four

S.Tendulkar : c Gilchrist b McGrath 18(24) 3 Fours
V.Sehwag : c Gilchrist b McGrath 6(7) 1 Four
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Australia : 278/6 (50 overs ) Run Rate : 5.56

M.Hussey :Not Out 65(63) 2 Fours 3 Sixes

M.Clarke : b Harbhajan Singh21(25)
R.Ponting :c S.Raina b S.Tendulkar 66(86) 8 Fours 2 Sixes
A.Gilchrist :c S.Tendulkar b S.Sreesanth 44(44) 5 Fours 1 Six



India need 221 runs to win in 35 overs Required rate of 6.31 rpo

 

[aussie1st]

Thats masterful bowling from the master, totally ripped India apart and put them under huge pressure. Just need the other bowlers to follow suit.

 

[surendar]

Its Poor way to get out ( dismissal of Sachin ) & Sachin's failure in finals continues! :

 

[RoboRocks]

Well bowled by McGrath, every delivery is there or there abouts.
India are find it tough now.
Good performance but the Aussies.

 

[gamerkid22]

Its Poor way to get out ( dismissal of Sachin ) & Sachin's failure in finals continues! :

Probably his favourite way to get out against McGrath (caught behind)

 

[m_vaughan]

Aussies have done very well here - picking up early wickets and also cutting down on the runs. This puts the opposition under pressure.

Looks like its the same old story for Sehwag here as well.

 

[mehkar]

nice presentation again India'n need partnership here if the want to win
keep it up

 

[Simbazz]

Ouch, India seem to have succumbed to the Pursuasiveness of Mcgrath when giving there wickets away.

Great presentation as always

 

[Deleted member 13648]

Looks like Sachin middled it :

Unlucky India giving away two wickets, with Dhoni still there they can win though!

 

[gamerkid22]

Dhoni Dhamaka​

Australia were on top at the start of the Indian innings with G.Mcgrath bowling a good line and length and troubling all the batsmen and never allowed them to get on top .Finally Ponting made a double change in the bowling and brought Bracken and Hogg from both ends . But change in bowling changed the course of the match . India started scoring runs quickly and now they were trying to reach close to the required run rate . Dravid was scoring nicely and calmly and was giving most of the strike to Dhoni .Dhoni was well settled now after facing 40 odd deliveries and and now looking too confident in this stroke making . He started to play his natural game by scoring sixes and fours and all of a sudden Aussies were seeing the Dhoni Dhamaka . He was smashing everything that was pitched in his zone and also Hogg was going for few runs even when he was bowling a negetive line. Dhoni reached his 50 and now he is looking more dangerous.

Dhoni smashing the bowlers

While Dhoni was smashing the bowlers , Dravid was still there was was playing quitely but was scoring at a good rate as well . Whenever a bad ball was bowled he got on top of it and gave the full treatment to the bowler. Dravid was standing as The Wall and was building the innings nicely . He was scoring the 1's and 2's and when the opportunity came he never hesitated to score the boundaries. He even smashed Hogg for a huge six on the leg side . Somehow Hogg's negetive line was not working as batsmen were getting used to it . Dravid is playing a good captains role here and is nearing his 50 as well.

Rahul 'The Wall ' Dravid

Ponting needed wickets quickly and so he threw the ball to Watson . he had to provide the breakthrough. He went for few runs in the start and it was looking as the Indian batsmen were not going to allow him to settle down . That was good planning by the too batsmen . In his next over Dravid went for a big one on the offside and conected it beautifully and it looked like the ball will clear the boundary with ease but McGrath took a magnificant catch right on the boundary edge and he balanced himself nicely and completed the catch . That was a huge wicket for the Aussies and now they have the opportunity to capitalize and put more pressure on the Indians as Yuvi walks in .

Dravid's wicket

India : 156/3 (30 overs ) Run Rate : 5.20
M.Dhoni :Not Out 70(80) 5 Fours 1 Six
Y.Singh :Not Out 6(6)

R.Dravid : c McGrath b Watson 46(55) 4 Fours 1 Six
S.Tendulkar : c Gilchrist b McGrath 18(24) 3 Fours
-------------------------------------------------------------
Australia : 278/6 (50 overs ) Run Rate : 5.56

M.Hussey :Not Out 65(63) 2 Fours 3 Sixes

M.Clarke : b Harbhajan Singh21(25)
R.Ponting :c S.Raina b S.Tendulkar 66(86) 8 Fours 2 Sixes
A.Gilchrist :c S.Tendulkar b S.Sreesanth 44(44) 5 Fours 1 Six



India need 123 runs to win in 20 overs Required rate of 6.15 rpo

 

[plympilgrim]

this is big, very big, dhoni there holding the fort,he needs to stay to the end and needs to be backed up by the rest of the guys

 

[Jaztheman]

could be close but i think aussies will wrap up the game and the finals

 

[surendar]

Nice recovery from India.. I feel they are on the way to a big win today