Tendulkar’s 17,000 runs overshadow Aussie victory
Australia defeated India by three runs despite a scintillating 175 by
Sachin Tendulkar in the fifth one-day international here on Thursday.
Tendulkar, 36, smashed 19 fours and four sixes for his 45th one-day
century before India were bowled out for 347 in 49.4 overs while chasing
Australia’s imposing 350-4 in 50 overs.
Tendulkar, who became the first batsman ever to surpass 17,000 runs
in one-day cricket when he reached seven runs, also shared a 137-run
partnership with Suresh Raina (59) to take India close in the day-night
encounter.
But his dismissal in the 48th over proved the turning point of the
game and handed Australia a 3-2 lead in the seven-match series.
Debutant fast bowler Clint McKay picked three wickets, including that
of Tendulkar, while Shane Watson took 3-47 to cap a fine all-round
performance, having scored 93 earlier.
Australia were also indebted to Shaun Marsh, who struck a career-best
112 and shared 145 runs for the opening wicket with Watson after the
world champions won the toss and elected to bat at the Rajiv Gandhi
stadium.
India began their chase in rollicking fashion with openers Virender
Sehwag (38) and Tendulkar putting on 66 runs in 53 balls but lost their
way in the middle with three quick dismissals. Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj
Singh and skipper Dhoni all failed to reach double-figures as they tried
to go for the big shots, India slipping to a shaky 162-4 by the 24th
over.
Raina kept his cool, reaching his 12th one-day half-century with a
six before a Watson double strike tilted the scale back in Australia’s
favour.
Earlier, Marsh clobbered eight fours and two sixes in his run-a-ball
knock for his maiden one-day hundred, reached with a clipped two to deep
square leg off paceman Ashish Nehra (1-79).
Watson too thrived in batsmen-friendly conditions, hitting nine fours
and three sixes in his 89-ball effort before being caught at deep
mid-wicket as he tried to slog sweep off-spinner Harbhajan Singh (1-44).
HYDERABAD, AFP |