Australia has emphatically broken its Twenty20 duck against India, annihilating the World Champions by 10 wickets in front of over 84,041 fans at the MCG.
The home side chased down the mediocre target of 75 with 8.4 overs to spare.
In perfect conditions, Australia got off to a flier when Michael Clarke affected a spectacular run out in the first over, making a superb stop at point before throwing down the stumps at the bowlers end, claiming danger man Virender Sehwag for a duck.
The Indians lost a wicket in each of the first four overs, with Bracken collecting two, while Brett Lee bowled Murali Karthik with a searing full toss. The delivery was just under the legal height, with Lee clocking 155k/hr.
All-rounder James Hopes got into the act, bowling Rohit Sharma for 1 to leave India 5/32.
MS Dhoni and Irfan Pathan started what appeared to be a mini-recovery, occupying five overs until debutant David Hussey dismissed Dhoni for 9.
The Indians slumped to complete indignity, when part-time off-spinner Adam Voges picked up two wickets in two balls. With number 11 Ishant Sharma facing a potential hat-trick ball, he was surrounded around the bat by almost the entire Australian side. Sharma safely prodded his first delivery into the ground.
Irfan Pathan was the final batsman dismissed, the only Indian to crack double figures, making 26.
Australian openers Adam Gilchrist and Clarke were barely troubled. Gilchrist holed out in his pursuit to entertain, caught at deep mid-on for 25 off 22 balls, one ball after hooking a six.
As if the match wasn’t anti-climactic enough, the game ended with an Sharma wide.
Clarke finished with 37 not out off 36 balls, while Victoria’s Brad Hodge made a steady unbeaten 9.
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