Symonds steers Australia home
A timely return to form from Andrew Symonds and a blistering knock by Brad Haddin has lifted Australia to an 84 run win over India in Kochi to give the visitors a 1-nil series lead after the second of seven one internationals.
With the expected rain staying away, India sent Australia into bat in steamy conditions. That decision appeared to pay immediate dividends, with Gilchirst dismissed at the end of the first over for a duck, quickly followed by Brad Hodge.
Michael Clarke and Matt Hayden put together a much needed half century partnership, but when Clarke was stumped of fast bowler Irfan Pathan for 27, the visitors were still on the back foot at 3/66 in the 16th over.
Enter Symonds.
Symonds snicked an early sighter off Pathan to the fence, however what was to follow was not an accident. A mixture of maturity and brute force, Symonds put Australia back into the contest. Hayden would be next to go, with his dismissal for 75 leaving the world champions in the far more comfortable position of 4/160 in the 32nd over.
Enter Haddin.
The back up keeper, today playing the role of middle order batsman only, plundered the Indian attack, belting three sixes and eight fours, at times putting Symonds in the rare position of anchor.
Symonds was eventually dismissed for 87 off 83 balls. Haddin would lead the Aussies to a late assault of 41 runs off 19 balls. Only six of those 41 were scored by the other batsmen used - James Hopes(4) and Brett Lee (2*).
Australia finished with the formidable total of 6/306, the second straight time the Aussies cracked 300.
India lost Gautam Gambhir for 7, however the home side was on track in the early overs, led by Robin Uthappa. However it was the dismissal of Tendulkar, caught square of the wicket off Stuart Clark for 16, that set India back.
Wickets steadily fell, as the run rate dropped below a run a ball. Clark was particularly miserly (2/14 off 6), with several batsmen failing to capitalise on starts. Uthappa went for 41 off 30, Rahul Dravid out for 31. Despite MS Dhoni’s lone hand of 58 not out, the contest quickly disintegrated, with the spin of Michael Clarke (2/35 off 9) and Brad Hogg (3.40 off 9.3) seeing Australia home. India was dismissed for 222 with 15 balls to spare.
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