Rain leaves India dependent on Pakistan to stay in CT

By Rahul Bajaj
for Cricketain.com

Published: September 29, 2009

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Centurion: Rain played spoilsport on Monday in India’s clash against Australia as the match was called off due to incessant rains with India and Australia splitting one-point each.

Ironically, India is now dependent on Pakistan to stay in the tournament. India will have to beat West Indies by a huge margin in their last group match and hope that Pakistan beats Australia, if they want to have any chance of making it to the semi-finals of the tournament. Monday’s result, however, meant that Pakistan became the first team from Group A to confirm their place in the semis.

Australian skipper, Ricky Ponting, won the toss as Mahendra Singh Dhoni again couldn’t manage to call the coin correctly. Electing to bat first, Australia got off to a slow start losing opener Shane Watson (0) with just 3 runs on the board as he mistimed a pull of Nehra to Harbhajan at mid wicket.

Ashish Nehra and Praveen Kumar, who came into the side in place of the struggling RP Singh, gave India a very good start as they bowled a tight line and length restricting Australia to just 23 in the first 8 overs. It was the Ishant Sharma’s introduction into the attack that loosened the leash as Tim Paine and Ricky Ponting took him for 16 runs in his first over. Paine first hit him for a six and a four and then Ponting drove him for a four.

The pair continued to grow in confidence and added 83 runs for the second wicket which provided stability to the Australian innings. Amit Mishra, drafted into the team in place of Yousuf Pathan, got India the second breakthrough when he dismissed Tim Paine (56) caught at midwicket by Harbhajan Singh.

Ponting and Mike Hussey though went about the business very efficiently, working the field around, and erected a stand of 88 runs for the third wicket. India, in a brilliant piece of fielding by Gautam Gambhir, got the wicket of Ponting as Gambhir came running in from deep midwicket, threw down the non-striker’s end and caught Ponting short of his crease.

Ponting made 65 off 88 balls and hit four fours and a six. Hussey though kept going strongly from the other end and soon completed his half century from 45 balls inclusive of four fours.

With lightning and dark clouds mushrooming on the horizon, Australia opted for their batting powerplay in the 36th over in the hope of advancing their score rapidly. They made 44 runs and another half-century stand, this time between Hussey and Cameron White, helped them reach a commanding position. Ishant put his bowling woes behind when he got Hussey caught in the deep on the off-side. Hussey’s knock of 67 came off 65 balls with the help of five fours.

With the score reading 234 for 4, the rain started pouring down at the Centurion forcing the cricketers to take shelter indoors. Hours later, the match was called off dampening India’s chances of making it to the semis of the tournament.

INDIA’S SEMI-FINAL CHANCES

* India will have to beat West Indies in their tie on September 30 and Pakistan will have to beat Australia.

* India’s net run rate will have to be good enough for them to move on.

* As for Australia, a win or a shared point against Pakistan will take them through to the semi-finals and will virtually push India out of the tournament.

Brief Scores:

Australia 234 for 4 (Hussey 67, Ponting 65, Paine 56) v India – match abandoned due to rain

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