Johnson rips through India

Mitchell Johnson took career best figures against India today to help Australia thrash India in the fifth ODI at Vadodara by nine wickets.

In what appeared to be a flat track, Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat. A big score was expected with the Indians having a golden opportunity to level the series.

That score never came though. Brilliant bowling from Lee and Johnson together with an insipid display of batting from India saw the match swing heavily in Australia’s favour early on.

There was action aplenty right from the start when Sourav Ganguly was run out in the first over. Ganguly had hit Lee to midwicket before being sent back by Sachin Tendulkar when an ordinary through from Hodge to wicket-keeper Gilchrist had Ganguly on his way back to the pavilion for no score.

The horror start continued when Dravid was out the next ball to Lee, plumb LBW for a golden duck and leaving India in real trouble at 2-5.

It didn’t get much better when Yuvraj Singh was out a couple of overs later to Mitchell Johnson. Yuvraj, who doesn’t have much experience against the new ball, lazily went for the off-stump delivery inducing a thin edge to the acrobatic Gilchrist who took a marvellous catch, needing to change directions after heading off in the opposite direction.

Johnson continued his high-class performance when he had Uthappa LBW for five and India’s captain MS Dhoni on his way for just four after nicking it to Gilchrist.

India were now 5-43 and in serious trouble with all the specialist batsmen gone, bar one, the unyielding Sachin Tendulkar.

In his 400th game he played some glorious shots and held the forte as his team-mates fell around him. He showed an astute understanding of the conditions whilst the other batsmen failed miserably.

The ‘little master’ carried India on his shoulders as he had done so many times before. But even he could not do it all as he fell on 47 after Lee was brought back into the attack by Ponting.

It was an excellent move by the captain that paid immediate dividends as the fast bowler ended the 49 run partnership with an beautiful delivery that induced an edge from Tendulkar straight to the waiting Gilchrist.

Harbhajan Singh lasted all of three deliveries and Irfan Pathan was out for a Test-like 26 off 63 deliveries. Zaheer Khan provided some fireworks with two sixes in a welcome cameo of 28 before he was dismissed by Bracken, again edged to Gilchrist as India limped to 148 all out.

The Australian vice-captain had a special day behind the stumps, taking six catches in a memorable performance although it was not enough to overshadow the bowling of Mitchell Johnson in a stellar performance with the ball.

Showing marked improvement by the day, Johnson was all over the Indian batsmen, taking five wickets for just 26 runs. Lee took 2-42 and together with Johnson he stamped his authority on the game right from the start to the end of the innings.

The Australian openers began chasing the potentially awkward total with marked care, not wanting to go the same way the Indian top order had earlier in the day.

However early in the innings, Hayden sustained an injury whilst running between the wickets and despite playing on with a runner, he never really looked comfortable. A failure according to his lofty standards, Hayden scored 29 off 39 before inside edging a fine RP Singh delivery onto his stumps.

Ponting joined Gilchrist at the other end. Gilchrist continued with the bat where he left off with the gloves as he helped himself to three magnificent sixes the next over off a stunned Murali Kartik.

Both batsmen were never really troubled after that, using the match as an opportunity to get some form back with the bat after looking rusty throughout the series. They made the total in 26 overs completing a thorough and comprehensive victory over the home side. Gilchrist finished with 79 and Ponting a run a ball 39 in an almost effortless 95 run partnership.

The win ensures Australia cannot lose the series and India will have to fight tooth and nail to tie it. The signs from the match are all good for Australia, Johnson has been a real revelation whilst the Gilchrist and Ponting were able to get back into the runs. For India, their batsmen will be mightily embarrassed that they were unable to give Tendulkar the 400th match he rightfully deserved and will hope they can make it up to him in his 401st, at Nagpur on Sunday.

India 148
Sachin Tendulkar 47, Zaheer Khan 28
Mitchell Johnson 5-26, Brett Lee 2-42

Australia 1-149
Adam Gilcrist 79*, Ricky Ponting 39*
RP Singh 1-15

Australia beat India by nine wickets to take a 3-1 lead in the seven match series.