Tendulkar guiding India out of early scares
Sachin Tendulkar is carrying the Indians on his back as the visitors march towards Australia’s mediocre 159 in the Commonwealth Back series one-dayer at the MCG.
India is 2 for 64 off 14 overs, with Tendulkar 30 off 25 balls. The all-time highest run scorer in ODI cricket has launched himself at the Australian attack, in an attempt to nullify the favourable bowling conditions.
Tendulkar survived an extremely confident shout in the eleventh over, when charging Stuart Clark. Replays indicated Tendulkar made contact when swiping across the line, only for Rudi Kurtzen to deny the appeal.
Virender Sehwag was the beneficiary of the defensive fields, twice edging through the slips for boundaries. His magic carpet ride ended in the fourth over, trapped LBW by Nathan Bracken.
Ifran Pathan’s elevation to number three won’t be seen as a success, however his 18 was valuable in the low scoring match.
Gautam Gambhir is unbeaten on 4.
India can also claim a bonus point if they successfully chase down the target inside 40 overs.
India’s winning position was set up by their pacemen, who gained an early edge over the Australians and refused to surrender their advantage.
The low, slow Melbourne track will give the home side some hope heading into the night session, however a target of 160 will still be considered grossly under par.
Despite losing Adam Gilchrist (0) to a dreadful LBW decision off Sreesanth, the home side were clearly on a mission to stampede the Indian attack. Matt Hayden had Australia pumping at seven runs an over, until he was caught behind off Ishant Sharma for 25. Sharma removed Ricky Ponting, who is fast-becoming a favourite haunt for the spindly quick, for 9.
Michael Clarke struggled to 11, while Andrew Symonds provided Sharma his third scalp, caught behind for 14.
Hussey and Brad Haddin - playing as a batsman only - eased off the pedal. Haddin was bamboozled by Harbhajan, stumped for 5 off 31 balls.
Australia had collapsed to 6 for 92.
Brett Lee then combined with Mike Hussey for an innings best 53 run partnership, of which the NSW quick scored 10. Mitchell Johnson was quickly dispatched for 3.
Nathan Bracken (1) and Stuart Clark (0) could not give Hussey any support. Sharma (4 for 38 off 9.1) deservedly finished with the pick of the figures, while Sreesanth (3 for 31 off 9) and Pathan (2 for 26 off 
were excellent allies.
Hussey was the only Australian to provide resistance, finishing unbeaten on 65.
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