Thursday, March 24, 2011

Live Cricket World Cup - Australia v India


15 oversInd 76-1 
Watson's bowled steadily, but there's nothing he can do about it when Gambhir flays him over the covers for four. A single takes him to eight, and Tendulkar dabs one to third man which slides his score up to 46.
14 oversInd 70-1 
Vic Marks on TMS wonders when Australia will introduce off-spinner Jason Krejza into the attack - he doesn't think it'll be while we're still in powerplay overs. Johnson is off after taking 0-20 from his first four, and Lee returns, bowling round the wicket to the left-handed Gambhir and immediately having him swinging and missing outside off stump. Gambhir doubles his score with a single to third man - then a single through the covers takes Tendulkar to 18,000 ODI runs. Wow. Gambhir nicks the strike with a single.
13 oversDRINKS BREAKInd 67-1 
Tendulkar and Gambhir add a couple of singles, there's a half-hearted lbw appeal for one which hits Tendulkar outside the line as he plays forward. Better from Watson, who's been the Aussies' best bowler so far.
And if you're still seeing the "worm" graph from earlier (as one or two of you texting in still appear to be) and it's going haywire... please manually refresh the page. As I mentioned, it was something of an experiment - and it's gone now.
12 oversInd 65-1 
Johnson to Tendulkar, that's a lovely shot which has people all over our office "ooh"-ing. A wristy flick from middle and off and it shoots away through mid-wicket for four. The next ball is wide and it's cut past third man for four. The 'Little Master' is showing off a range of shots, angling a two to long leg and then square-driving to the point boundary to keep the strike - 11 from the over. Sachin has 43 from 49 balls. These two have added 21 in 3.5 overs... and Gambhir's only faced two balls - not that the crowd will mind with their idol Tendulkar on song.
11 oversInd 54-1 (TARGET 261) 
Tendulkar gets an edge from Watson... but it reaches first slip on the bounce. A two takes the Indian idol to 31, before he threads a single to the cover sweeper. Watson bangs in a bouncer at Gambhir, that's a legside wide, then he tries to whip one off his legs, Ponting dives forward, is that a catch? There's a big discussion between both umpires, and the umpires themselves consult their colleague in the TV box. And slow-motion TV replays show... a rather obvious bounce before it reaches Ponting's hands.
  1. 10 oversInd 50-1 
    Johnson keeps Tendulkar tied down for a while, although he gets away with an outrageous wide outside off stump that somehow isn't signalled as a wide. He nudges the last ball for a single to the square leg boundary. That's 50 up for the co-hosts.
  2.  
    From Ian, Lancaster, TMS inbox: "In world sport, which professional has more pressure every time to perform than Tendulkar? Usain Bolt at a push. Everyone (excluding the opposition fans) always want to see the master carve another century. Which I think he may today."
  3. 9 oversInd 49-1 
    Gautam Gambhir is the new batsman, but he's not facing as they ran on the catch. Tendulkar laces a beautiful cover drive past the diving Aussie fielders for four, and a dabbed single to third man brings left-hander Gambhir on strike for the first time. He defends his first ball.
    8 oversInd 44-0 
    Tendulkar drives and misses as Johnson bowls one across him that keeps low. But a short-arm pull brings him his fourth boundary of the innings. India are well up with the rate - needing to score at 5.16 per over.

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