Vadodara, Oct 25 – Harbhajan Singh and Praveen Kumar’s 84-run onslaught brought India to the edge of a sensational victory against Australia, but the hosts tripped in the thrilling final over and went down by a mere four runs in the first of the seven-match One-Day International cricket series here Sunday.
Australia were cruising to victory when India, chasing a tough 293, looked down and virtually out at 201 for seven. But Harbhajan (49 off 31 balls) and Praveen (40 not out of 32 balls) rose to the occasion and smashed 84 runs off 57 balls for the eighth wicket to bring the hosts to the threshhold of victory.
With 29 required in the last 12 balls, the duo smacked Shane Watson for 20. But Peter Siddle held his nerve and rattled the stumps of Harbhajan with the second ball of the last over, conceding only four runs.
Harbhajan, who enjoys playing against the Australians, struck four fours and three sixes in his blistering knock while Praveen hit five fours and a six.
Harbhajan and Praveen were lackslutre with the ball, but made up with their superb batting effort to give a rousing start to the series.
The late Indian flourish notwithstanding, Australia were on the top of the match for most period.
Ricky Ponting led the charge, scoring 74 off 85 balls after deciding to take the first strike on a batting wicket and fast outfield. Ponting and Tim Paine (50) built a strong foundation adding 97 runs for the second wicket. Cameron White (51) kept the momentum in the middle overs and Michael Hussey (73) gave the late thrust to the score.
Virender Sehwag (13), making his international comeback, began with a flourish of fours against Brett Lee, but soon gave his wicket to the fast bowler. Sachin Tendulkar (14) struck two classy fours before Ricky Ponting held a sharp reflex catch at short cover to remove him. Gautam Gambhir (68) and Virat Kohli (30) revived the innings with a 58-run stand.
Gambhir, who hit six fours and one six in 85-balls, added 64-runs with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (34), but was dismissed by Mitchell Johnson (2-59) at the crunch time. Suresh Raina (9), Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja left trying to accelerate. With nothing to lose, Harbhajan and Praveen played their strokes freely and pressure on Australia showed with the 20,000 fans cheering lustily.
Earlier, Nehra (2-58) gave India the right start, trapping Shane Watson leg-before with a sharp incoming delivery.
It remained India’s only success till the 19th over as Ponting with newcomer Paine powered Australia’s run pace. Ponting, who struck eight fours and two sixes, batted with authority. Paine grew in confidence watching the veteran play some beautiful shots through the off-side. Australia cruised to 50-runs in 8.5 overs.
Paine was dismissed by Sharma immediately after he reached his career’s third half- century.
Ponting then added 49 runs with White, who took some time to adjust to the wicket. The Australian captain was well on course for a century when Ravindra Jadeja (1-39) reaped the reward of maintaining a good line, trapping him lbw.
Australia slowed down a bit after Ponting’s fall and when Nehra dismissed White, who added 56 runs with Hussey, it seemed the visitors would not near the six-run per over mark.
But Hussey led the assault in the final overs, stroking eight fours and one six for his 54-ball 73 to lift the Australian total.
The visitors would have crossed the 300-run target had it not been for the last over bowled by Ishant (3-50) in which he gave just one run and accounted for the wickets of Hussey and Lee.