First Final: Australia Cruise
Sunday, February 8 2004
Australia has cruised to a comfortable victory against India in the first VB Series final thanks to a blistering display with the new ball and some stable batting from Ricky Ponting.
Immediately upon winning the toss, Sourav Ganguly elected to bat against the 3-man Australian pace battery.
Shortly following the commencement, Virender Sehwag fell to Jason Gillespie for just 3 after gloving a short ball to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist.
Three overs later Sachin Tendulkar was clean bowled by a peach of a delivery from Brett Lee – at fast pace, between bat and pad. The little master made just 8 as his side slumped to 2/14.
VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid both then fell with the score on 48 within 2 overs of each other – Brad Williams and Ian Harvey the beneficiaries of poor strokes.
Sourav Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh also failed to make an impression on the Australian bowling attack, both being caught behind to offside slashed from the bowling of Harvey and Brett Lee respectively.
Fortunately for the Indians, however, Hemang Badani found an unlikely ally in Ajit Agarkar.
Agarkar, for all his success with the ball in this country, had failed to show any glimpses of his talent with the bat on previous tours or infact this summer.
Today, Agarkar found gaps in the field and on 3 occasions cleared the fence to ensure that his spirited 53 gave India a glimmer of hope – before his soft dismissal to a dismal stroke from Michael Clarke.
Irfan Pathan (19) and Anil Kumble (2) both fell soon after Agarkar – run out to Michael Clarke on the fence, thanks to some good accurate throwing.
Once Lakshmipathy Balaji was bowled by Jason Gillespie India had fallen to 222, with Badani playing the anchor role unbeaten on 60.
Adam Gilchrist then began the chase in express fashion, creaming 38 from just 20 balls before holding out to Sachin Tendulkar on the fine leg boundary from Balaji.
Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting then set about ensuring victory for the home side, with Hayden anchoring the innings with a subdued 50 from 91 deliveries before he was controversially caught and bowled by Balaji.
Ponting, on 88, fell shortly before victory with a 16th ODI ton in sight when he edged Balaji to Rahul Dravid for the seamers third wicket.
Damien Martyn (20*) gained some valuable time in the middle, while Andrew Symonds was unbeaten on 10 once victory was achieved.
Final Scores:
India 222 (H Badani 60*, A Agarkar 53; B Lee 2/34, J Gillespie 2/39, I Harvey 2/40)
Australia 3/224 (R Ponting 88, M Hayden 50; L Balaji 3/52)
Australia won by 7 wickets.
Cricket Web Player-of-the-Match: Ricky Ponting.
Australia lead the 3 match finals series 1-0.
Posted by Andre
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