Same old story: India let down Sachin again!

Zeecric Bureau

Hyderabad: Sachin Tendulkar played one of his most memorable innings but could not guide his team to victory as Australia beat them by 3 runs in a nail-biting finish to take a 3-2 lead in the seven-match series.

Chasing an improbable 350/4 set by the visitors, India, led by Tendulkar’s 175, came within sniffing distance of the target but failed to cross the final hurdle as the tailenders crumbled under pressure to be all out for 347.

Australia had earlier scored 350, thanks to Shaun Marsh’s 112 and Shane Watson’s 93.

During his 141-ball knock, Tendulkar not only amassed his 45th ODI ton but also became the first player to score 17,000 ODI runs. The masterly innings was also the fastest century and the highest individual score for India against Australia.

After starting cautiously, both Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag (38 off 30 balls) cut loose as soon as the former reached his 17,000 landmark. Tendulkar and Sehwag stitched together an opening stand of 66 while the former stayed on to amass another crucial stand of 137 with Suresh Raina (59) later on in the innings.

But just when it looked like the home team will get to victory quite easily, Tendulkar departed on the first ball of the 48th over while trying to play a scoop shot. The dismissal saw panic in the Indian dressing room as the tailenders failed to score the required 19 runs from the remaining 17 deliveries.

The Indian innings looked in disarray at 162 for 4 at one stage but Tendulkar and Raina ensured there were no more hiccups and brought the tourists back into the game. But the subsequent dismissals of Ravindra Jadeja (23), Praveen Kumar (9) and Ashish Nehra (1) resulted in India slumping to defeat from 299 for four off 43 overs at one stage.

The Indian top order, except Tendulkar and Sehwag failed to impress as Gambhir, Yuvraj and Dhoni could not do much to help the home team’s cause.

Needing just 19 off the last 3 overs, India looked on course for victory but Tendulkar and Jadeja departed quickly to leave the tail with the task of ensuring victory.

The hosts were still in with a chance with 8 runs needed off the last over but fell just 4 runs short of the target when Praveen Kumar was run-out while trying for a quick second run.

Riding on a majestic century by Shaun Marsh and whirlwind 93 by Shane Watson, Australia posted 350/4 in the 5th ODI against India here on Thursday.

Shaun Marsh’s tryst with India continued as he slammed his first ODI hundred in Hyderabad. After his success in IPL-08, he again chose Indian soil to show his talent. His run-a-ball 112 consisted of 8 fours and two brutal sixes.

Shaun Marsh took the attack to the opposition once Watson got out after playing a brutal knock, which set the tone for the batsmen who came after him. His intention of scoring quick runs was met with success as the Indian bowlers continued to bowl without any purpose, spraying the ball all over the place.

Cameron White (57) and Mike Hussey (31*) took over once Oz lost Marsh and took the Indian bowlers to the cleaners. White was more severe on the Indian bowlers and scored his 5th ODI fifty in style. They put together a scathing 43-ball 80-run partnership that helped them reach 350 in the end.

Earlier, Riding on excellent batting performances from Watson and Marsh Australia reached the hundred-run mark in 16th over after they won the toss and elected to bat first on a placid batting track. It was the first hundred-run opening partnership of the series.

But, it was Shane Watson who took the attack to the opposition after some initial overs as they started pretty cautiously.

After the cautious start, Shane Watson broke free and started hitting boundaries at will and completed his fifty in style. He took just 40 balls to reach his half century which contained 5 fours and 3 towering sixes.

Just as everybody was waiting for Watson’s century, India finally got their first breakthrough as they removed rampaging Shane Watson for 93. Watson holed out at deep mid-wicket to Ravindra Jadeja off Harbhajan Singh.

Then came captain Ricky Pointing, who has been in tremendous form ever since the series started. He played some magnificient shots and gave ample support to Marsh who then was batting at his best. But in trying to up the tempo, Ponting finally departed for run-a-ball 45, with three fours and a huge six. Ponting was deceived by Praveen Kumar’s slower one which disturbed his stumps.

It was Praveen Kumar who has been the only Indian bowler who bowled reasonable well on an unresponsive pitch.

India brought in Munaf Patel in place of Ishant Sharma who was rested for this match. Gautam Gambhir, who missed the last match in Mohali due to injury, came back into the side for Virat Kohli.

Australia brought in Adam Voges for Henriques while Hilfenhaus came in for Peter Siddle. Johnson was dropped and Clint McKay, who will makes his debut, has replaced him.

Teams

Australia (Playing XI): Shaun Marsh, Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting(c), Cameron White, Mike Hussey, Adam Voges, Graham Manou(w), Clint McKay, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger

India (Playing XI): Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni(w/c), Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Praveen Kumar, Ashish Nehra, Munaf Patel