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Untitled Document
 Batting blues for India at Adelaide
17th Feb 2008 18:00 IST
Agencies
Indian bowlers pinned down Australia but their famed batting colleagues made a mess of a modest chase as the visitors hurtled to a 50-run defeat in the seventh match of the Tri-Series at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide today.
After their seamers had restricted Australia to 203/9 in 50 overs, India's much-vaunted batting order proved a huge let down as they collapsed in just 41.2 overs for a meagre 153 against an Australian attack sans their spearhead Brett Lee.
India, chasing 204 for win, were always against it when they lost three wickets in a clutch to be 59/4 in the 16th over.
Irfan Pathan (14), Gautam Gambhir (34) and Rohit Sharma (1) departed within eight balls to leave India staring at defeat at a critical time.
Sachin Tendulkar went early for five off a dubious leg before decision but Gambhir and Pathan took the score to 55 without much trouble when the rot set in.
India were revived by the 56-run fourth wicket stand between skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (37) and vice-captain Yuvraj Singh (26) and appeared to be back once again in the hunt.
Yuvraj, who appeared set to play his first substantial innings of the tour, struck a big six off Brad Hogg and three pleasing fours before hitting a long hop from the left-arm spinner into the hands of the long-on fielder Stuart Clark.
It was a critical blow for the visitors as Dhoni was hamstrung by a pulled calf muscle and needed a runner to support him.
The end became a reality when Dhoni was run-out for 37, made off 50 balls with one four, as his runner Rohit Sharma failed to make it at the non-striker's end as was beaten by the direct hit by Matthew Hayden from mid-off.
All the frontline bowlers did a good job for the hosts with Mitchell Johnson (3/42) and James Hopes (2/16) being the standout performers.
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