Its Only Cricket

India out-smart Australia in first final.

Filed under CB Tri-series 2008

There's a trick to beating Australia : being alert all the time!

on a flat deck at Sydney - bowlers (specially spinners Harbhajan & Piyush Chawla) were awake all the time to keep Aussie batsmen in check in middle overs after initial breakthrough from Praveen Kumar who was given the new ball.

Note : 11 previous encounters, India had never beaten Australia at Sydney (in Onedayers). Sydney is also the same cricket ground were sad second test match was played.

Sachin-Tendulkar-Sydney-020308.jpg Target? 240 from 50 overs. Full scorecard.

Fightable, isn't it? not really when Sachin Tendulkar scores a century. South Africans believe 'never sledge Sachin, it urges him on', but Australian bowlers made the mistake. Then, Brett Lee bowled a beamer (full toss which hit Sachin on head/shoulder)..

Bad mistake!

37 matches since Sachin had scored an ODI century, 38 ODIs in Australia but never once passed 100 - Sydney today saw Sachin Tendulkar score his 42nd oneday international ton! and India's first win at the venue after 11 straight loses to Australian team.

Indian team likes to bat first & set targets, but it was a clinical run chase from them..

Quotes
Ricky Ponting, on what lecture he gave in dressing room after losing this first final : "It was a bit of kick in the backside". "It wasn't all nice stuff!". "India out played us in most of areas, so well done to them".

Interesting notes
**This is the fourth time that India is playing finals of annual triseries in Australia. in three previous occasions - 1985, 1992 & 2004..India had lost 2-0 to Australia.. now at least they have won one off best of three finals!
**Man with most centuries, Sachin Tendulkar, scored his first ever century in Australia, which came after 37 matches. Sachin had reached 99, 93, 99, 94, 99 & 97 in the mean time.




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