In a remarkable game of twists and turns in Sydney, India
wrapped up a memorable trip down under with a nail biting nine run victory over
Australia in what has been among the finest three days of Indian cricket
this century Winning the CB Series 2008 Finals. After winning the first
final and u-19 World Cups on Sunday, the onus was on winning the second final
and the Indian team emerged out winners for a gargantuan battle of wits, patience
and skill to etch out a series victory that will be written forever in the annals
of Indian cricket.
India started the match on a positive note with both Tendulkar and Uthappa
showing treating the Aussie attack with disdain. However Uthappa's dismissal
on 30 put the brakes on Indian scoring and after looking to setup a target of
around 300, the Indian batting line up had to settle for 258. Sachin Tendulkar
was the star of the Indian batting lineup once again putting to rest the ghosts
which have surrounded his performances in finals with a splendid 91 reminiscent
of his exploits in Sharjah against Australians ten years ago. A few lusty blows
from Mahendra Singh Dhoni kept the Indian batting going and a target of 258
was setup for the Australian side to overhaul under lights at the Gabba.
The Australian chase began rather inauspiciously as the top
order unfolded much along the same lines as they did two days ago. Adam Gilcrhist
had a rather forgettable finish to his international career when he was out
to a vicious Praveen Kumar outswinger while the likes of Ricky Pointing
and Michael Clarke were out to rather ordinary shots against the guile and direction
of Praveen Kumar. AS on Sunday, it was left to the likes of Matthew Hayden and
Andrew Symonds to do the mop up job and for once, the Indian team did look on
the verge of an all too familiar capitulation. However, a quicksilver throw
from Yuvraj Singh saw the end of Matthew Hayden and Harbhajan Singh had his
last laugh against Andrew Symonds when he trapped the burly all-rounder with
a massive off break that kept low. Michael Hussey and James Hopes did give the
Australians hope of a comeback with a fine partnership for the sixth wicket
but the introduction onf Sreesanth saw the end of a fine innings from Hussey
caught behind by a fine low catch by Dhoni.
There was excitement galore towards the final stages of the match when James
Hopes, playing the innings of his life nearly took the Australians past the
mark setup by the Indians with some lusty blows last on. A sixer off Sreesanth
meant the last over bowled by Irfan Pathan held utmost importance in the context
of the series. In stark contrast to his earlier bowling form through the series,
Pathan kept his composure towards the end and the dismissal of Nathan Bracken
and James Hopes in consecutive deliveries saw an incredible end to one of the
finest cricket series in recent times. India's victory in an ultimate cricket
battle against the Australians would go down into cricket's annals and the millions
of Indian fans following the game through television and live online India cricket
streaming would be celebrating what is arguably the biggest Indian limited overs
success since their victory in Australia twenty two years ago.
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