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India v England : tour suspended following terrorists attack in Mumbai.. India wins ODI series 5-0.
1st ODI, 2nd ODI, 3rd ODI, 4th ODI, 5th ODI...... Test Series Schedule, Records, History, More info.

Match 1 : Bowlers day-out : Rain wins!

Filed under CB Tri-series 2008

Manoj-Tiwary-Debut-Bowled.jpg Fact : Australia, world champions in ODI form of cricket, will slip down to 2nd position in world ranking if they don't reach the finals of current commonwealth bank tri-series.

Hope : Rain god stays away!

Match 1 (scorecard) - India were against home Aussie team, and captain Dhoni once again (since losing T20 game 2 days back) opted to bat first after coin came down in his favour. Sehwag chops one onto his stumps & Sachin Tendulkar hit his own wickets.. India 26/2 in 6.3 overs.

Then? magic. absolute magic as Gautam Gambhir - Rohit Sharma combo starts punishing Australian new ball bowlers. Square drives, cut over point, straight drives were coupled with very quick singles - tapping the ball right under the nose of famous fielders like Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke & others. Cricket viewing was never better from an Indian perspective than what Gambhir-Sharma unleashed in that 78 ball partnership. 65 runs it produced. I must add here that Gambhir was dropped off consecutive deliveries from Mitchell Johnson first by Hussey and then by Aussie captain himself.

Now captain Ricky Ponting, playing this tri-series opening match despite severe back pain, had to stop the flow of fours from Indian left-right hand batting combination. He calls his strike bowler - Brett Lee back. from other side - Mitchell Johnson took up the attack & India lost 4 wickets - inside 41 deliveries for just 11 runs. India 102/6 with 24 more overs remaining.

Responsibility fell back on wicket keeper Dhoni and all rounder Irfan Pathan to build some kind of fighting total. After 1st rain interruption - India's batting innings was reduced from 45, and last man (Sree Santh) got run out off the very last ball while trying to take an impossible 3rd run.

During innings interval - rain interrupts for the 2nd time.

Australian chase began late - revised target (accoring to Duck-Worth Lewis system) now changed to 192 off 43 overs. Out comes Adam Gilchrist with new partner James Hopes - first 2 overs Irfan Pathan overs produced 23 runs. Then, Gilchrist gloves one leg-stumpish delivery from Sree Santh to Dhoni and although Umpire was shaking his head - Gilly walked off.

Australia 33 for 1 in 4 overs when rain interrupts for the 3rd time.

Gabba groundsmen were working over time & stadium was ready for a fresh fourth start (revised target 141 off 26 overs) - but by now, pitch had consumed moisture & young Indian bowlers had found their length. Ishant Sharma cleaned up James Hopes' furniture whereas Ricky Ponting edged one to first slip off Sree Santh in familiar fashion.

4th rain interruption & match was called off.

Notes to note
**This was 673rd one day International for India, who are now just one behind Pakistan to become the country to play most ODIs. Australian team is not far behind with 670 ODIs played by them over the years.
**Match was abandoned, but records are registered. now, Brett Lee took 5 wickets in this match, which was his seventh 5 wicket haul, equaling australian record with Glenn McGrath. World Record for most 5 wicket hauls in ODIs stands with Waqar Younis (13 times) and Muthiah Muralitharan (8 times).
**Sachin Tendulkar was out 'hit-wicket'. a rare mode of dismissal it was, Sachin is only the 3rd Indian batsmen to get out hitwicket after Anil Kumble and Nayan Mongia.




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