Sachin Tendulkar once again proved his penchant for scoring
big runs in Sydney with a fabulous century to guide India to a triumph over
the Australians in the first CB Series final.
A solid start from Robin Uthappa and Sachin Tendulkar
gave India a perfect platform chasing a relatively challenging total from the
Australians. However, three quick wickets in the space of ten overs turned the
match on its head and for once, signs of an all familiar Indian batting collapse
were imminent. However, in young Rohit Sharma Tendulkar found an ally to keep
the score board ticking without any real chances or risks being taken. A fabulous
123 run partnership between Tendulkar and Sharma ensured that the pendulum swung
towards India's way as they marched on to take a fine 1-0 lead. While Sharma
played some lovely drives in his innings, Tendulkar was the mastermind of the
attack playing with unbelievable maturity and coolness as he nullified a powerful
Australian attack on his way to a run a ball century without any major risks.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni did give Tendulkar fine company in the end as India pulled
up a 1-0 lead in the series.
It did seem as though India would be chasing a much bigger
total early on when Hayden was at his blistering best. However, a fine spell
of spin bowling in tandem from Harbhajan Singh and Piyush Chawla
turned the game of it's head and in retrospect, the instability to Australians
to get more than 98 runs in the last twenty overs would have cost them the tie
and probably the series. Ishant Sharma will be out for the remaining
matches with a finger injury and team India will be hoping to manage with the
services of their premium fast bowler this tour when they look to warp up the
series with a win over the Australians at Brisbane on the 8th of March 2008.
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