Symonds Seals the Series

Andrew Symonds blazed a ton and bowled ten tight overs as Australia beat India by 18 runs to take a 4-1 lead in the seven match series.

Set an imposing 318 to win, India chased hard, with Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly reprising memories of their glory years with a 140 run opening stand before Tendulkar was smartly stumped by Adam Gilchrist off the bowling of James Hopes for a run-a-ball 72. MS Dhoni then promoted Irfan Pathan to number three in a bid to keep the momentum building India’s way, and the ploy paid off, with the pinch hitter swashbuckling his way to 29 from as many balls before falling to the excellent Brad Hogg (4 for 49 from 10 overs). Pathan’s departure with the score at 189 in the 33rd over sparkwed a mini-collapse as India soon found themselves reeling at 218 for 5. Hogg and Symonds bowled beautiflly both in the lead-up to this collapse and during it, containing a rampant Tendulkar and Ganguly and thereby ensuring that the hosts had to keep pressing throughout the innings. India were never allowed to get ahead of the formidable asking rate, and it was this pressure which eventaully told on the brave hosts.

Ganguly, born-again after the tribulations of 2006, sliced and diced his way to an impressive 86 before being caught fatigue, bowled exhaustion (actually the scorecard said caught Hodge boweld Hogg, but the former really told the tale). His loss was keenly felt by the Indians, and may have been contributed to by the out-of-sorts Rahul Dravid batting at number four ahead of the in-form MS Dhoni or Yuvraj Singh. No doubt Dravid’s difficulties contributed in some way to the expansive shot which Ganguly played to bring about his dismissal. The pressure was on, as runs were only coming from one end, and Yuvraj soon departed lbw to Hogg as the batsman looked to re-establish Indian dominance over the bowling.

With India seemingly in disarray at 218 for 5, Robin Uthappa joined Dhoni in a pulverising partnership, with the 50 stand being brought up in only 29 balls. Suddenly, India were back in the game as both batsmen, but particularly Uthappa, were savage on Michael Clarke’s slow stuff and Brett Lee’s fast ones. Lee’s unhappy second half of the day (seven wicketless overs for 50) was compounded by his dropping probably the simplest chance by an Australian fieldsman since Dutchy Holland patrolled the international outfield whilst in his early 40s. A simple catch to short fine leg where Lee, one of Australia’s outstanding fieldsmen, was posted soon turned into one of those “sporting bloopers” moments which professional sportsmen must dread. The catch was spilt and it appeared the game may have literally slipped through the distraught fast bowler’s fingers.

Fortunately for Lee, James Hopes displayed a far surer pair of hands in the 49th over when he took a crucial catch to dismiss Uthappa (44 from 28) from the bowling of the excellent Mitchell Johnson (nine overs, 2 for 39). The catch to point went miles into the air as Hopes maintained his poise and balance to ignore the crowd, the state of the game and a rapidly converging Symonds to take the crucial catch. The dismissal effectively ended India’s stout resistance, and with the score still at 290, Dhoni fell to Johnson in the same over, also to an excellent catch, this time by Ricky Ponting. Johnson’s over proved crucial. The 49th of the innings, it was a double-wicket maiden and stood testimony to his continued improvement and maturity as an international bowler.

With Uthappa and Dhoni both out, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan played out Nathan Bracken’s last over. India finished with 299 for 7 – a grand chase, but not quite enough against such classy opposition.

Earlier, Andrew Symonds continued his one-man demolition of the Indian bowlers this series in compiling a match-winning 107 from 88 balls. Setting aside a controversial week, Symonds stepped into the bowling with his usual mix of languidity and power, clubbing nine fours and four sixes. Entering at 102 for 3, Symonds remained 107 not out and received admirable support from James Hopes and Brad Haddin in the late overs. He added 75 with Haddin then an amazing 90 in 8.4 overs with Hopes, who has himself proved an all-round asset to Australia this series. Michael Clarke, opening for the absent Matthew Hayden, was the only Australian apart from Mitchell Johnson not to reach double figures, being caught down the leg side by Dhoni from the bowling of Zaheer Khan (2 for 62 from 10) for a duck. From this point, Ponting and Gilchrist took control until the skipper was smartly held by Dravid off Harbhajan for 49 from 44 balls faced. Gilchrist (51 from 47) followed shortly after, and when Brad Hodge departed for only 20 with the total at 129 for 4, it seemed that Australia might succumb cheaply. Such is the depth of this Australian side, however, that it came as no surprise to see two relatively inexperienced international performers in Haddin and Hopes combine with the experienced Symonds to set the World Champions on their way to a mammoth 317 for eight form their allotted 50 overs.

With the series now wrapped up, Australia will be looking to end an ill-tempered tour on a high, and to give India more food for thought before its tour of Australia later this year. By contrast, the hosts will be looking to restore some pride and to take something with them for the long flight Down Under.

Australia 317 for 8
Symonds 107 (88)
Zaheer Khan 2 for 62

defeated India 299 for 7
Ganguly 86(111)
Hogg 4 for 49

by 18 runs.

Australia leads seven match series 4-1(first match washed out)

Man of the Match: Andrew Symonds.