Follow the second Cricket World Cup quarter-final between India and Australia with Jonathan Liew's over-by-over commentary. Latest: Australia 260/6; India 76/1 (15).
Running men: Australian openers Shane Watson and Brad Haddin set off at a decent pace against India
OVER 16: IND 80/1 Tendulkar 48* Gambhir 9*
Lee to bowl his fifth over, and a loose leg-side wide apart, it's a fairly good one. Just the three singles to go with that wide, the last one an upper cut that drops just short of Krejza at third man. These two teams appeared to have agreed some sort of unspoken pact: Australia are quite happy to keep things tight, India quite happy to keep wickets in hand. Has Shaun Tait read the script? He's going to return at the other end.
Lee to bowl his fifth over, and a loose leg-side wide apart, it's a fairly good one. Just the three singles to go with that wide, the last one an upper cut that drops just short of Krejza at third man. These two teams appeared to have agreed some sort of unspoken pact: Australia are quite happy to keep things tight, India quite happy to keep wickets in hand. Has Shaun Tait read the script? He's going to return at the other end.
OVER 15: IND 76/1 Tendulkar 46* Gambhir 8*And Gambhir finally gets going, taking a step down the pitch towards Watson and clattering him over extra cover for four. That's got the crowd going after a little bit of a lull. Gambhir mistimes to mid-off for another single, Krezja scoring a direct hit at the bowler's end with the batsman safely home. Tendulkar gets another single with his naan-and-ghee shot, the steer through backward point, and that's the end of the Powerplay overs with India slightly ahead at this stage. You'd hesitate to make them favourites, simply because the pressure of the situation makes a clatter of wickets doubly likely. "I am an Aussie following the cricket on the net in London. I hope that my NHS bosses don't mind!" writes Eric, whose second name I've censored to protect his identity from his employers. You're no kind of journalist until you've censored someone's name to protect their identity. Dissident Russian spies, junior doctors logging onto the cricket in the staff room. It's all the same to us.
OVER 14: IND 70/1 Tendulkar 45* Gambhir 3*
From a distance, the tiny floodlights at Ahmedabad look laughably inadequate - like iPads on sticks. They seem to be doing the job, though. Brett Lee returns, and Gambhir plays and misses at the fourth ball he's faced this innings. He follows that by miscuing his fifth to mid-off, playing and missing at his sixth and then, around 35 minutes after coming in, finally middling one. It still wasn't the most convincing shot, an uppish sort of poke down to third man that a gully might have snaffled, but it's safe enough. Tendulkar pushes into the off-side to bring up his 18,000th run in ODIs - a ridiculously intangible sum. It's such a large number that these milestones probably ceased to have any significance for him. Oh, I don't know, perhaps he still keeps meticulous track of his figures. He'll be able to tell his grandchildren: "The seventh thousand was the best. Followed by the sixteenth. Followed by the twenty-ninth. If he makes it to a hundred, remember, it'll be his hundredth in international cricket.
From a distance, the tiny floodlights at Ahmedabad look laughably inadequate - like iPads on sticks. They seem to be doing the job, though. Brett Lee returns, and Gambhir plays and misses at the fourth ball he's faced this innings. He follows that by miscuing his fifth to mid-off, playing and missing at his sixth and then, around 35 minutes after coming in, finally middling one. It still wasn't the most convincing shot, an uppish sort of poke down to third man that a gully might have snaffled, but it's safe enough. Tendulkar pushes into the off-side to bring up his 18,000th run in ODIs - a ridiculously intangible sum. It's such a large number that these milestones probably ceased to have any significance for him. Oh, I don't know, perhaps he still keeps meticulous track of his figures. He'll be able to tell his grandchildren: "The seventh thousand was the best. Followed by the sixteenth. Followed by the twenty-ninth. If he makes it to a hundred, remember, it'll be his hundredth in international cricket.
OVER 13: IND 67/1 Tendulkar 44* Gambhir 1*
And Gambhir could easily have been out off his third ball as well! An inside edge misses the stumps and scuttles down to fine leg to get him off the mark. Australia are really attacking Gambhir here - Ponting's put two slips in for him, as opposed to none for Tendulkar. Watson's getting some tasty seam movement out there, and there's a loud appeal for LBW as the ball comes back in and raps Tendulkar on the pad as he pushes forward. Not out! The ball probably just hit him outside the line, and he was a good way down the pitch, so Ponting's loath to burn his last review at such an early stage. And then Tendulkar almost chops on as Watson again gets the ball to come back in! This is utterly enthralling. It's not exactly been a festival of brawn, but the tension's been strung out like a tightrope spun from the finest gossamer. Still anybody's game.
And Gambhir could easily have been out off his third ball as well! An inside edge misses the stumps and scuttles down to fine leg to get him off the mark. Australia are really attacking Gambhir here - Ponting's put two slips in for him, as opposed to none for Tendulkar. Watson's getting some tasty seam movement out there, and there's a loud appeal for LBW as the ball comes back in and raps Tendulkar on the pad as he pushes forward. Not out! The ball probably just hit him outside the line, and he was a good way down the pitch, so Ponting's loath to burn his last review at such an early stage. And then Tendulkar almost chops on as Watson again gets the ball to come back in! This is utterly enthralling. It's not exactly been a festival of brawn, but the tension's been strung out like a tightrope spun from the finest gossamer. Still anybody's game.
OVER 12: IND 65/1 Tendulkar 43* Gambhir 0*
Trademark Tendulkar! That's his shot, stepping across his stumps and flicking a perfectly acceptable delivery from Mitchell Johnson through mid-wicket for four. Four more! Tendulkar's played that shot so well this evening, nothing more than a push through point. Stunning placement. Tendulkar then flicks to fine leg for two, and then takes a single off the last to keep the strike again. Tendulkar's protecting Gambhir like a baby brother here, and given that Gambhir's faced two balls in this 23-ball partnership and could have been out off both of them, it's little wonder.
Trademark Tendulkar! That's his shot, stepping across his stumps and flicking a perfectly acceptable delivery from Mitchell Johnson through mid-wicket for four. Four more! Tendulkar's played that shot so well this evening, nothing more than a push through point. Stunning placement. Tendulkar then flicks to fine leg for two, and then takes a single off the last to keep the strike again. Tendulkar's protecting Gambhir like a baby brother here, and given that Gambhir's faced two balls in this 23-ball partnership and could have been out off both of them, it's little wonder.
OVER 11: IND 54/1 Tendulkar 32* Gambhir 0*
Tendulkar takes an easy two through square leg as Watson continues. Another single follows, dropped into the off-side. But Gambhir flicks the last to Ponting at mid-wicket! Did the ball carry? This is going to the third umpire! Ponting isn't sure, which means the ball probably didn't carry. If it had been at all marginal, you could bet your last stick of Juicy Fruit that Ponting would have been throwing the ball up, claiming the catch and later spouting some doggerel about "taking the fielder's word for it". And the ball did bounce. Quite a long way in front of Ponting. I suspect Ponting knew it too. Not out is the decision, and because that decision was referred by the umpires, it won't deplete either team's cache of reviews.
Tendulkar takes an easy two through square leg as Watson continues. Another single follows, dropped into the off-side. But Gambhir flicks the last to Ponting at mid-wicket! Did the ball carry? This is going to the third umpire! Ponting isn't sure, which means the ball probably didn't carry. If it had been at all marginal, you could bet your last stick of Juicy Fruit that Ponting would have been throwing the ball up, claiming the catch and later spouting some doggerel about "taking the fielder's word for it". And the ball did bounce. Quite a long way in front of Ponting. I suspect Ponting knew it too. Not out is the decision, and because that decision was referred by the umpires, it won't deplete either team's cache of reviews.
OVER 10: IND 50/1 Tendulkar 29* Gambhir 0*A third great name in a row! "Following on the net in Western Australia," writes Brad Merendino. "I don't have pay TV." My sympathies, Brad. What barbarian country doesn't make the biggest event in world cricket available on free-to-air telly? Um... It's a fine over from Johnson to Tendulkar, who's decided to bide his time a little. Just a single off the last. If Australia could just prise out Tendulkar - somehow - then you'd have to make them strong favourites. Gambhir will be chewing his fingernails at the non-striker's end for a while longer. End of mandatory Powerplay, and Australia take the bowling Powerplay immediately.
OVER 9: IND 49/1 Tendulkar 28* Gambhir 0*
He never quite looked himself, Sehwag. He wasn't really timing the ball, wasn't really getting himself into position to play it, and that was the upshot. All the pressure on Tendulkar, but you wouldn't tell from that gorgeous cover drive. Good grief, that's a good shot. A single through point - Tendulkar's favoured area so far - and Gambhir will face his first ball. And he tries to leave it but ends up toe-ending it through to Haddin on the bounce! The force is with Australia, and the crowd are momentarily subdued.
He never quite looked himself, Sehwag. He wasn't really timing the ball, wasn't really getting himself into position to play it, and that was the upshot. All the pressure on Tendulkar, but you wouldn't tell from that gorgeous cover drive. Good grief, that's a good shot. A single through point - Tendulkar's favoured area so far - and Gambhir will face his first ball. And he tries to leave it but ends up toe-ending it through to Haddin on the bounce! The force is with Australia, and the crowd are momentarily subdued.
WICKET! Sehwag c M Hussey b Watson 15 (22) IND 44/1The pressure gets to Sehwag! It's a fraction short from Watson, and Sehwag hoiks it high into the Ahmedabad night. Hussey steadies himself and takes the catch with comfort! Key wicket for Australia! Gambhir the new man, but he won't be on strike for the moment.
OVER 8: IND 44/0 Sehwag 15* Tendulkar 23*
Ah, Tendulkar! Johnson drops it a little short, and in a fraction of a second Tendulkar identifies it as fodder. In another fraction of a second, the ball's disappearing over mid-wicket for four, sending the crowd into paroxysms of rapture. It's been a brisk start by India, but not necessarily an explosive one.
Ah, Tendulkar! Johnson drops it a little short, and in a fraction of a second Tendulkar identifies it as fodder. In another fraction of a second, the ball's disappearing over mid-wicket for four, sending the crowd into paroxysms of rapture. It's been a brisk start by India, but not necessarily an explosive one.
OVER 7: IND 40/0 Sehwag 15* Tendulkar 19*
I'd wager there are quite a few Aussies who'll be sitting at home glued to this game well into the early hours. Any of you out there? Lee is replaced by Watson, about the closest thing Ricky Ponting has to a bowler who will put the damn ball where he's told to. As ever, it's an excellent line and length from Watson, but Sehwag can still work him away for one. And then Tendulkar edges wide of Haddin for four! Will Ponting regret not putting a slip in? It would have gone straight to him. A slip does go in now, but Tendulkar gets this one out of the middle, angling it through backward point for another single. Six off that over, and you'd take that off Watson any day of the week.
I'd wager there are quite a few Aussies who'll be sitting at home glued to this game well into the early hours. Any of you out there? Lee is replaced by Watson, about the closest thing Ricky Ponting has to a bowler who will put the damn ball where he's told to. As ever, it's an excellent line and length from Watson, but Sehwag can still work him away for one. And then Tendulkar edges wide of Haddin for four! Will Ponting regret not putting a slip in? It would have gone straight to him. A slip does go in now, but Tendulkar gets this one out of the middle, angling it through backward point for another single. Six off that over, and you'd take that off Watson any day of the week.
OVER 6: IND 34/0 Sehwag 14* Tendulkar 14*
Australia's bowlers have clearly been briefed not to give Sehwag any width at all. Johnson spears the first ball into Sehwag's pads from over the wicket, and only an inside edge saves him from being trapped in front of all three. A leg-side wide follows, the fifth of the innings already. Sehwag doesn't quite look right out there for some reason. He's shuffling around the crease in a most irritable manner, which would be suicidal technique if his eye weren't quite so good. When he does stand still, he picks up three through mid-wicket as Johnson strays once again onto the pads. Tendulkar leaves the last ball of the over.
Australia's bowlers have clearly been briefed not to give Sehwag any width at all. Johnson spears the first ball into Sehwag's pads from over the wicket, and only an inside edge saves him from being trapped in front of all three. A leg-side wide follows, the fifth of the innings already. Sehwag doesn't quite look right out there for some reason. He's shuffling around the crease in a most irritable manner, which would be suicidal technique if his eye weren't quite so good. When he does stand still, he picks up three through mid-wicket as Johnson strays once again onto the pads. Tendulkar leaves the last ball of the over.
OVER 5: IND 30/0 Sehwag 11* Tendulkar 14*Odiseo Bandler - great name - emails in: "This is it. This is where El Tendulko has to show his genius, and lead his team to the next game at least. Next game I'm with Pakistan!" Tendulkar flicks a single. Australia really are going for this short ball tactic while the ball's still relatively hard. Sehwag fends one off to mid-wicket and takes another run. Tendulkar pushes to point again, using Lee's pace, and gets two as Mitchell Johnson runs round from third man. And speaking of Mitchell Johnson, he's going to replace Tait after just two overs.
OVER 4: IND 26/0 Sehwag 10* Tendulkar 11*
Tait bowls a no-ball to Sehwag, so it's free hit time! Shaun Tait, bowling to Virender Sehwag, with a free-hit, is about as unpredictable a scenario as it's possible to get in international cricket. Sehwag backs away, and Tait peppers him with a short ball! Good move! Sehwag simply blinks as the ball whooshes past his grille, and the free hit is wasted. Tait's leaking plenty of runs, though, and after another leg-side wide, Sehwag stands tall and flicks the ball off his thigh pad for four. Not a sparkling start by Tait, it has to be said. Decent start by India, who now need 235 from 46 overs. Where's your money - the part of it, at least, that's not sticking out of George Osborne's breast pocket? Drop us an e-mail.
Tait bowls a no-ball to Sehwag, so it's free hit time! Shaun Tait, bowling to Virender Sehwag, with a free-hit, is about as unpredictable a scenario as it's possible to get in international cricket. Sehwag backs away, and Tait peppers him with a short ball! Good move! Sehwag simply blinks as the ball whooshes past his grille, and the free hit is wasted. Tait's leaking plenty of runs, though, and after another leg-side wide, Sehwag stands tall and flicks the ball off his thigh pad for four. Not a sparkling start by Tait, it has to be said. Decent start by India, who now need 235 from 46 overs. Where's your money - the part of it, at least, that's not sticking out of George Osborne's breast pocket? Drop us an e-mail.
OVER 3: IND 20/0 Sehwag 6* Tendulkar 11*"Sehwag opening with Prior?" splutters Lionel Gelley. "Prior wouldn't make it as the team mascot for the Indians!" Wouldn't be much good carrying the drinks, either, if his glovework is anything to go by. Australia's plan to Sehwag is evidently to tuck him up with the short ball, and there's a leg gully installed for that specific delivery. Sehwag flicks the ball past him a couple of times, getting mighty close to treading on his stumps on both occasions, Tendulkar calmly takes a couple of singles into the off side, and that's a relatively quiet over.
OVER 2: IND 16/0 Sehwag 4* Tendulkar 9*
It's your first ball against Australia in the World Cup quarter-final, and you're facing the world's fastest bowler. What do you do? Well, if you're Sachin Tendulkar, you steer it through backward point for four. The man's a genius - that we knew - but he's such an unflappable genius, that's the unnerving thing. Tait responds with a wide. He's fairly easily perturbed, Tait, and there's nobody in world cricket better suited to the job of perturbing him. Tendulkar upper cuts a wide delivery - his second ball - for another four. Astonishing. Another wide, a single down to third man, and Tait's first over has cost 11. Gadzooks.
It's your first ball against Australia in the World Cup quarter-final, and you're facing the world's fastest bowler. What do you do? Well, if you're Sachin Tendulkar, you steer it through backward point for four. The man's a genius - that we knew - but he's such an unflappable genius, that's the unnerving thing. Tait responds with a wide. He's fairly easily perturbed, Tait, and there's nobody in world cricket better suited to the job of perturbing him. Tendulkar upper cuts a wide delivery - his second ball - for another four. Astonishing. Another wide, a single down to third man, and Tait's first over has cost 11. Gadzooks.
OVER 1: IND 5/0 Sehwag 4* Tendulkar 0*
It is, of course, Sachin Tendulkar who strides out with Sehwag. A little movement first up for Lee, inducing a leading edge from Sehwag second ball. The third ball is down the leg side, appearing to flick something on the way, but Marais Erasmus signals a wide. Can't exactly blame him, you'd struggle to hear a Metallica soundcheck amid that din, let alone a faint nick off the thigh pad. And then Sehwag's away with one of those crashing off-side thrashes that betray an equal disdain for the delivery and the very notion of foot movement. And there's a huge appeal for caught behind as Lee beats Sehwag outside off! Not out, says Erasmus! Ponting reviews! Again, Erasmus won't have heard the edge, but Australia were adamant! Is that a faint noise on the stump mic? A hint of a deflection? Nothing conclusive, I have to say. You'd have to be a brave man to give Sehwag out in the first over on that evidence. They're still looking at it... Eramsus is nattering away to the third umpire, Yorkshire and Middlesex's Richard Kettleborough, and eventually the original decision is upheld. Not out. Bit of early drama, no? Right, now here's a real treat. Shaun Tait to Sachin Tendulkar.
It is, of course, Sachin Tendulkar who strides out with Sehwag. A little movement first up for Lee, inducing a leading edge from Sehwag second ball. The third ball is down the leg side, appearing to flick something on the way, but Marais Erasmus signals a wide. Can't exactly blame him, you'd struggle to hear a Metallica soundcheck amid that din, let alone a faint nick off the thigh pad. And then Sehwag's away with one of those crashing off-side thrashes that betray an equal disdain for the delivery and the very notion of foot movement. And there's a huge appeal for caught behind as Lee beats Sehwag outside off! Not out, says Erasmus! Ponting reviews! Again, Erasmus won't have heard the edge, but Australia were adamant! Is that a faint noise on the stump mic? A hint of a deflection? Nothing conclusive, I have to say. You'd have to be a brave man to give Sehwag out in the first over on that evidence. They're still looking at it... Eramsus is nattering away to the third umpire, Yorkshire and Middlesex's Richard Kettleborough, and eventually the original decision is upheld. Not out. Bit of early drama, no? Right, now here's a real treat. Shaun Tait to Sachin Tendulkar.
13.15 We're ready to go. Virender Sehwag to open with Matt Prior. Brett Lee to bowl.
13.10 As you may have heard, Michael Yardy has flown home from the World Cup suffering from depression. After a quick phone call to ICC headquarters ("You've reached the ICC. Press 1 to register a new player, 2 to report match-fixing and 7412*56538975#511*54 to register a complaint"), England have called up Adil Rashid as his replacement. He'll arrive on Saturday, the day of England's quarter-final, and could play in the semi if England get there. Alternatively, he could arrive on Saturday and fly home on Sunday, with nary a spare half-hour to send a postcard home.
13.05 Thanks, Mike. Bit of an old fashioned effort by the Australians, wasn't it? Bit of dash in the first 15, followed by a long process of consolidation, keeping wickets in hand, and then some after-hours pongo at the end. For all my opinion's worth, I'd make Australia favourites to defend this. I understand the Sehwag factor, but there's nothing like chasing a decent score in a World Cup quarter-final to make those shoulders seize up. A little stat, if you will: in this World Cup, India have scored 370, 338, 296 and 268 batting first. Batting second (against Ireland and Holland), they limped to 210/5 and 191/5.
12.44: Par? Certainly competitive, with the significant caveat that 10 overs of Sachin and Sehwag can make any total starting with a '2' seem laughably unscary. Should be intriguing, and Jonathan Liew will be here to guide you through it this afternoon. If Australia had any sort of spin attack you'd back them on this wicket, because it's turning and it's tough. But they don't. They've even dropped Steve Smith. Genuinely great innings from Ponting. Can't believe you've all been writing him off. You must feel pretty silly right about now.
Right, I'm off to delete all articles I've written about Ponting in the last six months. Jonny will be here shortly.
Australia 260/6. India require 261 to win.
OVER 50 AUS 260/6 Five wides! Haha. Oh Bhajji - not exactly why a captain bowls a spinner in the 50th over, that. Johnson picks up two as Ashwin fields brilliantly at long-off. Yuvraj fields with less alacrity on the leg-side boundary allowing Midge a second when there should only have been one. Hussey's on strike last ball, and it's...two. Raina fields after Mr Cricket's brother bunts one towards cow. And that's 260/6. India require 261 to win.
OVER 49 AUS 247/6 Ashwin then, to bowl the penultimate over. And Ponting goes! All over...
WICKET! Ponting c Khan b Ashwin 104 (118 balls) Out reverse-sweeping! Nooo! Comic end to an heroic innings. Don't think I've ever seen him try that shot before, and you can be damn sure he's not gonna try it again any time soon. Here comes Johnson for the final over. Great applause for Punter...OVER 48 AUS 243/5 Superb death bowling from Zaheer now in the final over of the powerplay. His yorkers are impossible to get away and it's all Hussey can do to get off strike. Ponting's down the track to him and Zaheer bangs it halfway down to head him off at the pass, as it were. Ponting pulls for one, then there's a misfield by Ashwin, and that's the powerplay done - 44 off it. Brilliant from Australia. 12 balls left.
Michael Vaughan "Dhoni has had a stinker with the reviews today.. Outstanding innings from Ricky.. That will shut a few up.."OVER 47 AUS 237/5 Hussey goes big! Down the track and bunts Ashwin into the stands for six! Shot. And crucial at this stage. Ponting back on strike now, and there's it is. Ponting's century comes up with a sweep for one. One of the best knocks of his life, given the situation - and few hundreds will taste sweeter than that. Hats off. A modern great shuts all up once again. No big celebration, salutes the dressing room and gets back to it. At 36, in 100-degree heat, that's extraordinary.
OVER 46 AUS 226/5 Zaheer now, and there's three singles off the first three balls. India would gladly go at six an over from here. Ponting looks very fresh and fit. What a knock this is. There's two out to midwicket as Kohli fumbles on the boundary. Another single and Ponting's onto 98. Australia are doing what so few teams been able to - making the powerplay work for them. Seven from the over, 27 off three overs in the PP.
OVER 45 AUS 219/5 Ponting smashes Harbhajan to stride into the 90s! What a shot! Exposed all three stumps and 9-ironed it over the rope at extra cover - two bounces four. Big shout now! That's really close, but there's no reviews left, and Ponting will survive. Bhajji's livid - and has every reason to be, that was out, I reckon. Yep, looked it on the replay, but that's what you get for daft reviews, I'm afraid. Hard not to say that sentence without sounding smug and old, isn't it. 10 from the over again. Charge is on. RTP 94 DJH 18
OVER 44 AUS 209/5 As expected, Ponting forces umpire Ian Gould to produce a semi-extravagant powerplay signal. Zaheer, relishing the battle, is equal to the task with a couple of rasping full deliveries and Ponting can barely get his bat on it. A rare loose one, though, ruins his first three balls as Hussey calmly steers past point for four before clipping past short leg for another boundary. Easy.
OVER 43 AUS 199/5 Ashwin, who bowled Shane Watson through the gate, is back on and it's singles all round. Surely we are close to some fireworks with the powerplay still to come.
OVER 42 AUS 195/5 A continual, cacophonic 'Zaheer Khan' erupts from 48,000 baying Indians with the latest breakthough. David Hussey joins Rickaay and Zaheer immediately puts in a slower one. He gets it wrong and Hussey helps it for four past short leg. Ponting 84* Hussey 5*
WICKET! White c&b Khan 12 AUS 190/5Is Zaheer the new Graeme Swann? Dhoni brings the paceman back and immediately strikes. A sneaky slower one second up and White, misreading, offers a simple return catch. India's skipper could have it spot on here with his main strike bowlers saved for the last nine overs.
OVER 41 AUS 189/4 Mixed over for Tendulkar, but a tight one all the same. Ponting picks off a full toss and runs a crafty two before Tendulkar strikes the Aussie captain on the pads attempting a fine flick. The part-timer leaps off the turf appealing. Such is his status, India might have reviewed that one but they have used up their quota.
OVER 39 AUS 180/4 Yuvraj is back for his final over. Hard to hit, again. 33 off his nine overs, with two wickets. But that's six! Aww that's class. Six over extra, and it's a proper cricket shot as well. He's just hit that as clean as you like. Cracker. And that's four more! Delicate this time, clipped off the back foot through third man. Big over, and Yuvi's figures are smudged.
OVER 38 AUS 169/4 Ashwin's back, and there's an appeal for a caught behind - throaty shout. Nope, says Erasmus, review, says Dhoni. And nope, says the third ump. White went for the sweep, and India clearly thought there was a bit of glove on that. Forearm, it turns out. Ponting 66 White 9
OVER 37 AUS 166/4 Yuvraj continues, and again the run-rate has slowed following the wicket. Predicted total down to 241 now. Was upto 260. Cricinfo appears to have crashed, which may give you some indication about the mahoosiveness of this game. Slip and silly point in place now as Dhoni and Yuvraj go on the attack - great to see.
OVER 36 AUS 164/4 Another punt from Dhoni - here comes Virat Kohli to bowl to White. Interesting. Six off the over. "Kohli must have got White out in the IPL" reckons Chappelli...
OVER 35 AUS 158/4 Ponting's gonna have to do the bulk of this himself you feel, and he sweeps Harbhajan for four. Shot. Bhajji's not happy though - is he ever - because Yuvi didn't seem to pick it up in the deep and was running the wrong way as the ball crossed the rope. That is legimately annoying, to be fair.
Graeme Swann: Birthday presents diminish in coolness as you get older. 28yrs ago I got a blue bmx, today I got a laundry note apologising for my lost sock. Not related to the game, that one. Just thought something funny might lighten the mood. 'Why not make your commentary funny?' I hear you say...OVER 34 AUS 152/4 Zaheer will continue, Ponting clips a single and that's the 150. Good, solid is unspectacular platform. Bit there goes Hussey! Zaheer strikes!
WICKET! Hussey b Khan 3. Cleaned up! Hussey's done by what looks like a slower ball from Zaheer. Stumps everywhere. They might to well to get 250 now because Hussey was the man they needed to stay with RTP, especially with a powerplay still to come. Just bowled through the gate - pretty poor from Hussey, if truth told by Zaheer's got some serious skills once the ball gets old. Yep, definite change of pace - looked like some funky knuckle ball! White joins his skipper. Ponting 57 White 0.Preet mails: I don't want to chase more than 225. But if India have there heads on their shoulders even 300 is gettable....OVER 33 AUS 149/3 Harbhajan's enjoying his first sight of a left hander. He beats Hussey who lunges forward unconvincingly and MSD whips off the bails. Going at 4.51 an over, Australia. Ganguly's not impressed though - "hasn't been a dominant Australian innings. Ponting has been workmanlike." Clearly didn't watch him in the winter, when he wasn't working at all.
OVER 32 AUS 143/3 Zaheer's back for his second spell - should be a better prospect with the old ball. Huss, M is away - squirting a yorker into the covers. There's just a hint of reverse as Hussey tries to drive straight but clips it off the inside edge to midwicket.
OVER 31 AUS 141/3 Clarke goes! Yuvraj again with the wicket...
WICKET! Clarke c Zaeer b Yuvraj 8. Never got going in that 19-ball knock, Clarke. And here comes Huss. Not the worst setback for Australia that - Ponting and Hussey is the pair they'd want in at this stage. Clarke went for the big shot over mid-on but didn't get enough and Zaheer ran to his left to take a safe catch. Never in doubt. Ponting takes a single and that's his 50, off 68. Proper little Captain's Knock.OVER 30 AUS 139/2 So Sachin to Ponting. Crowd noise is nuts. No sportsman in history has given so much joy to so many. And there's turn there! Wow. That gripped and ripped - and bounced - and Clarke was nowhere near it.
OVER 29 AUS 133/2 Yuvraj can't tie this pair down with his darts. Nothing wildly off line but it's an easy four from the over. And hello - is that Tendulkar coming on from the other end?? Desperate/genius move from Dhoni.
OVER 28 AUS 129/2 Munaf to Ponting - hit in front, big shout from the bowler, Dhoni's not that interested. It's turned down, but they're going for the review! Not out. Too high, I reckon. Yeah, turned down by the third umpire. And Ponting celebrates with four. Oh, shot. Glorious straight aerial drive. One bounce four. Thought Punter only played shots like that on YouTube.
Shane Warne: If Australia can be around 145/50 at the 30 over mark with 8 wkts in hand they could post 280+ on this wicket that would be v hard to chaseOVER 27 AUS 122/2 Two off the Yuvraj over, India coming back well here. Ball is coming off the bat some very odd angles, and all batsman are struggling to time their shots, particularly through the offside. Check out out live Hawk-Eye and you'll see very few boundaries through cover.
OVER 26 AUS 120/2 Four off the Munaf over. Ganguly, in the TMS box, says this is a really good toss to win, says it'll be much tougher later on. Aussie bowling policy means they've got all their eggs in just the one basket of course - if basket isn't too cuddly a term to use for anything relating to Shaun Tait.
OVER 25 AUS 116/2 The wicket's slowed things down to waltz pace. The music's still banging technobhangra, though. Not quite sure the crowd needs geeing up. Clarke struggling for timing, and cuts off the bottom off his bat to take a single off Yuvraj. Clarke, you'd think, will enjoy this kind of track. Certainly would at his best, but he's not looked in great nick thus far in India.
OVER 24 AUS 114/2 Munaf's back - Dhoni no doubt using the post-dismissal lull as a good chance to get some quiet overs out of the big lump. The Noise is back, by the way. Deafening again. Just four from that Patel over. Better. Gets an arm around the waist from Bhajji for his efforts.
OVER 23 AUS 110/2 Haddin goes! Yuvraj gets the wicket just when India were looking out of ideas.
WICKET! Haddin c Raina b Yuvraj Singh 53 Strength becomes weakness as Haddin goes inside out again and is pouched by Raina at extra cover. Tried to get it up and over the in-field again but didn't get it and it just skimmed straight into Raina's not insignificant midriff. Did spin a touch. So Ponting, in what could be his last ODI, is joined by his heir apparent Michael Clarke.OVER 22 AUS 105/1 Oh Munaf. This is not your day, son. Four more for Haddin, just swinging across the line but there's enough on it to reach the rope. And that's 50 for Haddo. Fourth highest run scorer in the tournament now. Well done him. Bit quieter now., needless to say.
OVER 21 AUS 100/1 100 up for Australia. Ponting goes back to cut Yuvraj but he's through the shot and it squirts through cover for one. Yuvraj has gone for 17 off his three, so this fifth bowler is gonna be a worry for MSD. Set up brilliantly, this, isn't it?
OVER 20 AUS 95/1 And that's four. Wow - delicate late cut for four. Gorgeous hands! There's a more genuine edge for four this time, just a single, and that's the 50 partnership for this pair. Off just 53 balls. Dhoni's standing up now to Patel - nothing like giving your struggling quick a bit of confidence eh? Is this thrilling, epic World Cup now just going to turn into another Australian walkover? Have they fooled us again? Send me your throughts by electronic mail.
OVER 19 AUS 89/1 Bit more watchful against Bhajji, is Haddin. They're certainly targetting Munaf - literally in the case of Haddin, who almost killed him with one straight drive. However, had he killed him, he probably wouldn't have been able to bowl his full quota, which is obviously not what the Aussies want. Complicated, this targetting business. Munaf's back though for the next over.
OVER 18 AUS 86/1 Ricky! Where have you been all winter! Punter piles into Yuvraj, getting his first boundary with a lovely lofted shot against the spin over midwicket. Wallop. Then there's two steered past slip - just opened the face - and there's four more! Sweep shot that flies out of the screws for four. Is he back?? Ponting 20 Haddin 38. Few danger sings for the Indians here.
OVER 17 AUS 76/1 Bhajji firing them in pretty flat. There is turn there but it's still slow at this stage. Will be ripping square by the time Krezja's on later though! Well, maybe. Four from it. Ponting still pretty cautious.
OVER 16 AUS 72/1 Yuvraj on now - Dhoni's fifth bowling change, and it's a solid start too, just a couple from the over.
OVER 15 AUS 70/1 Harbhajan round the wicket now to Ponting, five from the over as this pair find the singles easy to come by. Bhajji goes defensive pretty quickly these days, even against former bunnies.
OVER 14 AUS 65/1 Bradley's warming up. Munaf's on and Haddin's enjoying the pace. Goes inside out to crash him through the covers for four, then goes straight and that's a proper thwack for four. Nearly killed the bowler! It was one of those technical chances - the hands went up - but he did well to get his face out of the way to be honest. Four more! Big over now, and Haddin helps himself through midwicket. Four paces out of his crease there. One over spell for Munaf?
OVER 13 AUS 52/1 Ponting gets Bhajji away for a couple down to fine leg. No leg slip in place. Ponting talked about 250 at the toss, and the Aussies look like they'll be happy with that. Certainly not a Bangalore blaze away deck. 50 up.
Jean Conick mails: "When will those dirty devils stop spitting. I like to watch all the cricket which involves watching during meals and every time they spit it turns my stomach. It should be banned as it is in Singapore. The Australians are the worst". Not entirely sure Jean isn't actually my mum....will try and work out the anagram.
OVER 12 AUS 49/1 Haddin gets away with a mis-timed drive against Ashwin. Goes for four but it's not far over Zaheer's hand at mid-off. Makes a pretty token 'I've tried skip!' effort to take the catch.
OVER 12 AUS 49/1 Haddin gets away with a mis-timed drive against Ashwin. Goes for four but it's not far over Zaheer's hand at mid-off. Makes a pretty token 'I've tried skip!' effort to take the catch.
OVER 11. AUS 41/1 Short leg in for Ponting as Dhoni attacks. Ponting's eyes are dinner-plate wide, and he's lunging forward. One from the over. "Ponting's arrival was perfectly timed for India," says Chappelli on TMS. "Harbhajan has had a great deal of success against him, and India would've felt like they needed a wicket."
OVER 10. AUS 40/1Change of ends, then, for Ashwin, who replaces Zaheer. And there's the breakthrough! Watson goes!
WICKET! Watson b Ashwin 25. Bowled around his legs!Went for the big slog sweep but was through the shot. He didn't have his angles worked out though, and despite geting his front pad outside the off stump he didn't cover the angle and Ashwin found a way though to the off stump. Here's Ricky - straight in against Bhajji."The only way the Aussies might have won this match would have been if they had dropped Ponting," mails Theo. "As it is they don't have a hope with him at No3. (He won't make a dozen)"OVER 9. AUS 39/0 Harbhajan on now, replacing Ashwin. Friends reunited, eh? He loves the stage, Bhajji, but he's had a really quiet tournament thus far, like the rest of the Indian attack to be honest. It's 99 degrees out there, according to Ali Mitchell on TMS. Two off the over.
OVER 8. AUS 37/0 Argh, that's a poor line from Zaheer, dragging it down leg, and Watson just helps it around the corner for four. I'll catch you up on the team news, briefly. The Aussies have dropped Steve Smith and are playing the extra batsman in Dave Huss. Agree with that? Or any other thoughts? sPing them over to me here...
OVER 7. AUS 32/0 Haddin goes big! Ashwin dumped over cow for six. Very high - didn't quite crunch it as he'd like, perhaps, but it's four, five rows back. Picked up from middle and off.
OVER 6. AUS 24/0 Watson's watchful as Zaheer angles it back into him from around the wicket. Fine striker of a ball Watto, but he's no nurdler and it'll be boundaries and dots, you feel. And there's the boundary. Too full, too straight and Watson flicks past mid-on for four. Timing it beautifully, today. That's his fourth boundary. Looks a good deck, but it is turning. Watto 17. Haddo 6.
OVER 5. AUS 19/0 Tidy start for Ashwin - neither man seems too keen to go crazy just yet, despite Ponting's, err, encouragement to his openers yesterday. And that's a shot - nothing risky there as Watson straight drives brilliantly for four.
OVER 4. AUS 14/0 Zaheer is around the wicket now to Haddin, angling it back in. Haddin goes inside out to drive, and that's a su-perb piece of fielding from Kohli at short extra-cover. He's 10, maybe 12 paces away from the bat and it's rocketed to him off the deck. Snaffled it above his head, Kohli and immediately shied at the stumps. Not from the Sourav Ganguly school of fielding, it's fair to say. And it's four more for Watson! Zaheer strays, and he's clipped through the leg-side.
OVER 3. AUS 9/0 Watson breaks the shackles with a cracking slog sweep for four. Shot. Got a good stride down there and gave it the treatment. Stacks of tension out there.
OVER 2. AUS 4/0 Zaheer's on the money. Steady - not bustling - run up but he hits the deck and there's a half-shout when Watson prods forward unconvincingly. Good line - one from the over. Looks stinking hot out there.
OVER 1. AUS 3/0 Incredible noise in Ahmedabad. Just brilliant. Tidy over from Ashwin, getting in close to the stumps. Haddin goes aerial but there's a bit of turn - dryish pitch - and an attempted straight drive is fielded by Harbhajan at straightish midwicket. Zaheer in now from t'other end. Unbelievable noise for every dot ball. Lord knows what a wicket will sound like.
Dhoni will open with the off-spinner Ashwin...
0857: So this is where we find out what India are made of, essentially. A batting order to die for but can they actually produce under the most intense pressure. Yeah, I reckon, but you may have your own view. Happy to disagree with you if so.
0851: Beautiful day in Ahmedabad but not many fans there. Half-full perhaps? Joking...
0850: So Australia's varied attack (one dark-haired pace bowler, one blonde one, one left-handed one etc) will have to wait a while until their trial against Sehwag and Sachin. And it'll be Haddo and Watto v Zaheer and Patel. Teams are on the way out.
0830: Morning all. Exciting, this, isn't it? Tremendous.
No time for waffle - Australia have won the toss and will bat first.Sehwag is fit. Game on.
Teams:
India: SR Tendulkar, V Sehwag, G Gambhir, V Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni*†, SK Raina, R Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh, Z Khan, MM Patel
Australia: BJ Haddin†, SR Watson, RT Ponting*, MJ Clarke, CL White, MEK Hussey, DJ Hussey, MG Johnson, B Lee, JJ Krejza, SW Tait
Watch the Highlights of this match at http://watch-live-sports-tv.blogspot.com/
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