So Close, but, so Far – Oz prevent Bhajji Scare!

Wow! That’s what I said after I finished watching the match and so did I do a many times before too. I was running out of my words and rightly so! Harbhajan and Praveen Kumar, when joined the crease, India needed 92 runs from 60 balls at a demanding run rate of 9.2. Until the second ball of the 43rd over, everything seemed right for the oz. But, it was Praveen Kumar who took the task, and hit a slower ball, pitched up by Watson, straight over his head, for a six. Still equation was favoring the oz and till the end of 45th over, the Indians managed to get a boundary or a six every over. Thereafter, it was carnage. 63 required off 30 balls @ next to impossible, 12.60 per over. Harbhajan made sure that the requirement of 12.60 per over was fulfilled and the over by Hauritz, the most economical of the oz bowlers, fetched 13 runs including a six and a four. The next over by Watson, fetched 8, whereas the 48th over by Siddle again increased 13 more for the Indian total. The best part was now, 49th over by Watson. The over included 2 singles, 2 boundaries by Praveen, a six and a boundary by Bhajji. The over in all fetched 20 runs leaving the difference in either side’s total to 8.

But, may be it was pre-destined, Harbhajan on 49 proved fatal. He, in prey of a very ambitious shot, missed the ball and the ball eventually rattled the stumps which rattled the Indian expectations. The number 10, Nehra, did his part taking a single and giving the strike to Praveen. But, as stated, Praveen just wasn’t able to hit the cork high. The last over just added 4 to Indian total, implying a 4 run victory by the Aussies.

Whatever it was, it was a game. Nevertheless, India lost, the team, especially Harbhajan and Praveen won the hearts of the people of Vadodara. The best part for the Indian team being: the team gave a fight when needed. They just didn’t give up. For India, Gambhir scored the highest 68. Harbhajan scored 49 off 31 whereas Praveen scored 40(not out). Virat Kohli and MSD scored 30 and 34 respectively.

Earlier in the day, Australia scored 292-9 in their allotted 50 overs. Though Nehra sent the in-form Watson back in the pavilion in his first over, Australian batsmen were able to manage partnerships all way round the innings. Ricky Ponting scored 74 whereas Mike Hussey, the man of the match scored 73 just off 54 balls.  

India meets Australia now on Wednesday, the October 28th, 2009, at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur for the second match of the 7-match series.