India A's fancied batting line-up failed miserably as the hosts crashed to a humiliating 156-run defeat against Australia A in the final of the triangular cricket tournament in Chennai on Friday.
Much was expected from the Indian team, after its three consecutive wins in the league phase, but chasing 304 in 50 overs, the batsmen surrendered meekly and were bowled out for 147 in 32 overs, making the final a lopsided affair.
Put into bat, the Australians came up with a superb all-round effort by piling up 303 runs with inform David Hussey (75), captain Cameron White (50) and Adam Voges (55 not out) among the runs.
Then the bowlers led by Brett Geeves (3 for 41), Shaun Tait (1 for 22) and Ashley Noffke (2 for 31) tore the star-studded Indian batting line up to power their team to a comprehensive win.
Their fielders also gave tremendous support to the bowlers by coming up with some superb catches.
India had raised expectations after their comfortable three wicket win over the Aussies in the last league match to cap the back-to-back victories over New Zealand, but came a cropper with the batsmen, barring Rohit Sharma (46) failing to take up the challenge on the flat M A Chidambaram wicket.
After India were tottering at 65 for six in 12 overs, Sharma (63m, 37b, 6x4, 2x6) put up the only noteworthy partnership of (40) with Saha (27 not out) for the seventh wicket, but he too departed six overs later.
The insipid display came as a big disappointment to the unexpected crowd of over 15,000 that had thronged the stadium for a match at this level despite being a working day.
