Live WT20: Australia thrash India by nine wickets

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September 28, 2012

22:19 Live WT20: Australia thrash India by nine wickets: Scorecard:

Sharma goes for 12 in his first, and probably only over.

Warner smashes the first ball of Yuvraj's second over for a six over deep midwicket. However, Yuvi has a reason to smile as Watson (72) hits straight to substitute Manoj Tiwary at short extra cover.

Watson's 42-ball knock was inclusive of two boundaries and seven sixes and put on 133 runs for the opening wicket with Warner. He is my man of the match.

Warner remains unbeaten on 63 and Maxwell on four as Australia thrash India by nine wickets with a whopping 31 balls to spare.

22:11 Live WT20: Warner's fifty puts Australia in control: Scorecard:

Virat Kohli replaces an out of sorts Harbhajan (2-0-20-0) in the 11th over and Watson smashes him for a six.

Yuvraj replaces Pathan (1-0-19-0) in the next over. His is a good over, just two coming off it.

It's Rohit Sharma to bowl now. Seems Dhoni will let all bowl. Warner gets his fifty in the over.

Australia 124 without loss after 13 overs.

22:01 Live WT20: Watson, Warner flay Indian bowlers in Colombo: Scorecard:

Piyush Chawla into the attack in the eighth over, replacing Zaheer (3-0-18-0), and Watson welcomes him with a six first ball.

The Aussie repeats the feat off the final ball as the spinner goes for 14 in his first over.

Warner joins the party in Harbhajan's second over, with successive sixes.

Irfan Pathan replaces an expensive to Chawla but to no avail. Watson hits successive sixes followed by a boundary to reach his fifty.

Australia 100 without loss after 10 overs.

21:48 Live WT20: Warner, Watson combine well for Australia: Scorecard:

Watson hits two sixes off Ashwin to ease the pressure. Warner joins the party with a couple of boundaries off Zaheer.

Harbhajan replaces Ashwin (3-0-29-0) in the attack in the seventh over. He concedes six runs as Australia reach the 50-run mark in the over.

Australia 53 without loss after seven overs.

21:31 Live WT20: Australia make slow progress in Colombo: Scorecard:

The covers are off within minutes and Warner hits the first ball after resumption straight past the bowler for his second successive balls. Nine runs come off Ashwin's first over.

Zaheer to share the new ball. Four runs come off the over.

Australia 17 without loss after three overs.

21:17 Live WT20: Rain halts play in Colombo: Scorecard:

R Ashwin starts with the ball for India while it David Warner and Shane Watson opening the batting for Australia.

Warner hits the third ball through cover for four. However, a drizzle ensures no further play is possible.

Australia five without loss after three balls.

21:03 Live WT20: Australia restrict India to 140-7 in Colombo: Scorecard:

Raina (26) hits two boundaries in the first two balls off Watson's final over before hitting the third straight to Maxwell.

Ashwin remains unbeaten on 16 as India manage 140 for seven in their stipulated 20 overs.

We have a match on our hands now.

20:56 Live WT20: Raina, Ashwin help India consolidate: Scorecard:

Christian's second over costs Australia 11 runs with both Raina and Ashwin finding the fence.

Ashwin hits Starc for a six over midwicket in his final over but the bowler nonetheless finishes with impressive figures of one for 27.

The penultimate over fetches India only five runs. Cummins ends with figures of two for 16, impressive to say the least.

India 129 for six after 19 overs.

20:42 Live WT20: Dhoni's dismissal puts Australia on top: Scorecard:

Rohit Sharma (1) survives just two balls, his stumps being rattled by Starc. India have lost three wickets in seven balls now.

The captain, MS Dhoni, comes out to join Suresh Raina at the crease. The duo help their side recover, with a 30-run stand for the sixth wicket before Cummins has Dhoni (15) caught by Bailey.

India 104 for six after 16 overs.

20:19 Live WT20: Watson's strikes helps Australia hit back: Scorecard:

Rohit Sharma comes out to join Irfan Pathan at the crease. However, the latter doesn't survive for long, Watson having him caught by White.

Pathan made a run a ball 31 and his wicket was Watson's second in the over.

India reduced to 74 for four after 11 overs.

20:16 Live WT20: Quick wickets help Australia peg India back: Scorecard:

Brad Hogg is introduced into the attack immediately after the powerplay and Pathan welcomes him with a boundary past short fine leg.

It is a good over otherwise, just six runs coming off it. Cummins comes back to bowl in the eighth over and strikes second ball, having Kohli (15) caught by Christian at mid-on.

Watson returns to have Yuvraj (8) caught by Maxwell at deep midwicket.

India 72 for three after 11 overs.

19:54 Live WT20: Kohli, Pathan help India consolidate: Scorecard:

Virat Kohli comes out to join Pathan and begins with a boundary off Starc.

Pathan joins the party with a six off Watson followed by a boundary, the latter going for 13 off his first over.

Daniel Christian replaces Starc (2-0-14-0) in the sixth over and gives away eight runs first up, including a boundary to Kohli.

India 50 for one after six overs.

19:41 Live WT20: India lose Gambhir early in Colombo: Scorecard:

Irfan Pathan opens the batting with Gautam Gambhir while it is Glenn Maxwell starting the proceedings for Australia.

Eight runs come off the first over, with Gambhir finding the boundary.

Mitchell Starc to share the new ball. Seven runs come off the over with Pathan hitting the fifth ball past point for a boundary.

Its three bowlers in three overs for Australia as Pat Cummins is introduced in the third over. Six runs come off his over but Gambhir (17) is run out off the last ball.

India 21 for one after three overs.

19:19 Live WT20: India leave out Sehwag to accommodate spin: Scorecard:

To accommodate an additional spinner India left out opener Virender Sehwag.

The logic behind captain MS Dhoni's decision is simple, all the Indian spinners 'can bat a bit.'

If the move works or not remains to be seen.

19:12 Live WT20: India win toss, opt to bat first vs Australia: India have won the toss and elected to bat first in the opening Super Eights match of the World T20 against Australia at the R Premadasa stadium in Colombo on Friday.

The champions of the inaugural edition go into the match with three spinners - R Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh and Piyush Chawla. Considering the nature of the wicket it seems to be a wise decision.

Australia go into the match with an unchanged side.

18:51

-Scorecard

Brilliant innings from Umar Akmal and Umar Gul ensured that Pakistan snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

Chasing 134 for victory, Pakistan were reeling at 76-7, before Akmal, Gul put on 49 runs for 8th vicket to swing it back in Pakistan's favour.

Gul was the aggresor of the two as he smoked three sixes and two boundaries, while Akmal remained unbeaten on 41-ball 43, which helped the subcontinent giants get out of jail.

Steyn was the pick of the bowlers with 3-22, while Robin Peterson managed with 2-15.

18:45

-Scorecard

Umar Gul departs after a brilliant 17-ball 32, which changed the complexion of the game.

Gul looking for another big hit was caught in the deep by Robin Peterson.

Pakistan need 9 runs off the final over.

18:35

-Scorecard

Umar Gul's power hitting has changed the complexion of the game.

Gul came in when Pakistan were reeling at 76-7, then smoked three sixes and couple of boundaries to turn the tide in Pakistan's favour.

Umar Akmal is giving him good company with 34-ball 32. At the end of 18 overs Pakistan were 119-7, still requiring 15 runs off 12 balls.

18:20

-Scorecard

An inspired South Africa have Pakistan reeling after their spinners and pacers have decimated them to 76-7 from 15 overs.

Yasir Arafat the latest victim who was taken brilliantly at short midwicket by JP Duminy for 3.

Afarat was done in by a lovely slower bouncer as he fended it off, where Duminy took a diving catch, much to the delight of Proteas.

Pakistan still require 58 runs off 30 balls, but more importantly they need a partnership for now.

#t20-world-cup

18:06

-Scorecard

Pakistan are making the task tough for themselves as they contiune to lose wickets at regular intervals.

The latest victim being Shoaib Malik who gave a simple catch to Dale Steyn in the third man off Kallis for 13.

And as we speak they lose boom boom Afridi too giving a dolly to Albie Morkel off JP Duminy for nought.

Pakistan 63-6 after 12.1 overs.

17:43

-Scorecard

After a maiden from Robin Peterson, it was Johan Botha's time to get into the act.

Botha got the fourth Pakistan wicket when he castled Kamran Akmal for one, in his first over itself.

Akmal trying to play a cheeky shot missed the ball -- ball crashed onto the off stump off Botha's second ball.

Pakistan really struggling now at 37-4 chasing 134.

17:32

-Scorecard

Dale Steyn gets the breakthrough for South Africa as he removes Imran Nazir for 14.

A slower bouncer from Steyn as Nazir goes for a pull getting a faint edge -- De Villers taking a diving catch in fornt.

In the next over, the other openers depart as Hafeez gifts his wicket to Robin Peterson for 15.

Good bowling from Peterson as he beat him in flight and was stumped by DeVilliers.

Suddenly Pakistan are struggling now at 31-3 after 4 overs.

#t20-world-cup

17:21

- Scorecard

Pakistan openers are off to a flying start with a flurry of boundaries in the initial overs.

Mohammad Hafeez started the run chase with a consecutive boundaires off Dale Steyn and then Imran Nazir too got in the act with consecutive boundaries off Morne Morkel.

At the end of 2 overs, Pakistan were 20-0.

#t20-world-cup

16:56

- Scorecard

A brilliant 38-ball 48 from JP Duminy helped South Africa to post 133-6 after a sluggish start to their innings.

The Proteas were struggling at one stage at 28-3, before he alongwith Behardien steadied the innings, then along with AB de Villiers played some big hit to take the score past 120-run mark.

Pakistan spinners kept a tight check on batters with Mohammad Hafeez and Yasir Arafat picking up 2-wickets apiece.

Besides Duminy, AB de Villiers made an 18-ball 25.

#t20-world-cup

16:42

- Scorecard

JP Duminy is leading the fight for the Proteas along with AB de Villiers who is giving good company to him.

In the final over of Saeed Ajmal, de Villiers managed to smash 2 boundaries, which was long due.

With just three oves to go, Proteas will look to use the long handle to good effect, with Albie Morkel and Johan Botha still in the dug out.

And as we speak Umar Gul accounts for AB de Villiers who hit is straight to Imran Nazir for 25.

South Africa 110-5.

#t20-world-cup

16:20

- Scorecard

The going has been tough for South Africa as the spinners have kept a tight check on the batters.

After losing three quick wickets up front, JP Duminy and Farhaan Behardien are trying their best to revive the innings with odd boundaries and sixes.

And as we speak, Hafeez removes Behardien as he chips down the track looking to smash one over the top -- missing the ball completly.

Kamran Akmal does the formalites as the Proteas lose their fourth wicket for 66.

#t20-world-cup

16:06

- Scorecard

Mohammad Hafeez comes into the attack and he STRIKES!!!!

South Africa reeling now as Kallis is on his way back to the pavillion after giving a simple catch to Shahid Afridi in covers.

Pakistan also have Afridi and Shoaib Malik as spinners if they want to use.

South Africa 39-3 after 9 overs.

#t20-world-cup

15:53

- Scorecard

Richard Levi and Jacques Kallis are playing some quiet overs as Saeed Ajmal comes to bowl.

First up an arm ball from Ajmal as Kallis misses -- phew!! that was close.

The spinners are keeping it tight. And as we speak, Ajmal castles Levi for 8.

An ugly shot from Levi as he went in for a reverse sweep. The ball spun in between his legs to hit the middle stump.

15:40

- Scorecard

Yasir Arafat strikes for Pakistan as he removes Hashim Amla for 6.

After a regulation miss from Kamran Akmal, Arafat decieves Amla with a wonderful slower one as he chips one to Shoaib Malik in the covers.

South Africa 9-1 after 2 overs.

15:36

- Scorecard

South African openers are out in the middle as Raza Hasan will open the bowling for Pakistan.

Good move considering Richard Levi is on strike. Levi drives one down the ground for a single.

Hashim Amla, meanwhile clips one through midwicket for a couple -- working from off to leg.

Amla chips down the track, edges the ball as it turned viciously -- but a fumble from Akmal gives him a chance.

South Africa 3-0 after 1 over.

15:06

Welcome to the live coverage of Group 2 clash between Pakistan and South Africa here in Colombo.

Both teams finished top of their respective groups and will look to make their mark straightaway.

The pitch looks to be a belter with spin in so it will be interesting what combination with both teams field with.

Meanwhile in the middle, AB de Villiers has won the toss and has elected to bat first on a bright sunny day here.

The Proteas have made one change to their side bringing in Robin Peterson in place of Faf du Plessis.

Pakistan captain reckons that the pitch will be good throughout so doesn't mind bowling. They have made one change to their side bringing in left-arm spinner Raza Hasan in place of Sohail Tanvir.