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Images: Australia vs India

Last updated on: May 8, 2010 01:48 IST

Image: Shane Watson hits a six
Photographs: Reuters

Australian openers were off to a flying start after MS Dhoni won the toss and elected to field first. Harbhajan Singh started the proceeding for India and bowled a brilliant maiden over.

However, Australia quickly got into the act as David Warner got Australia off the mark with a boundary off Ahsish Nehra in the second over. Four balls later, Watson dispatched Nehra for a maximum, scoring 12 runs off the Nehra's opening over.

Harbhajan could have had his first wicket had Ravindra Jadeja not dropped Watson at square leg.

And Watson did make India pay dearly. Jadeja was at the receiving end as the Watson smashed him fro three consecutive sixes as Australia got the much needed momentum. Warner joined Watson as he hit Zaheer Khan out of the park.

Dhoni introduced Jadeja for a second spell, and it wasn't much different from his first one. This time Warner used his long handle to good effect, hitting three huge ones, once again.

Yusuf provides the breakthrough

Image: Shane Watson is clean bowled by Yusuf Pathan

The duo soon completed their century stand, as Warner too reached his well deserved half-century.

Watson too reached his half-century with a six off Yusuf Pathan. Yusuf, however, provided the much needed breakthrough, when he cleaned up Watson, who tried to go for yet another six and was bowled.

The all-rounder made 54 off just 32 balls, which included one boundary and six massive sixes.

Warner turns on the heat

Image: David Warner hits one out of the park

David Hussey came in at the fall of Watson, and he too joined the party soon. He started off with a six off Nehra and then repeated the stroke off Yusuf off the next over.

Warner continued his big hitting as he sent a Yusuf delivery out of the park.

Dhoni then turned to Yuvraj Singh to provide the breakthrough.

But Warner didn't spare him either. Warner first hammered one over long on for a maximum and then two balls later slog-swept him for yet another maximum.

Yuvraj however had his man in the same over, when Warner edged a wide one into Dhoni's gloves for a well made 72 off 42 balls, with two boundaries and seven sixes.

India fight back to restrict Australia to 184/5

Image: Mike Hussey is cleaned up by Nehra

Indian bowlers, however, fought back after Warner's wicket. Yuvraj struck again, when he had Bradd Haddin stumped by Dhoni for just eight.

Nehra too tasted success as he picked up David Hussey for a breezy 35 off just 22 balls.

Mike Hussey struggled to get the ball out of the square as he was finally cleaned up by Nehra as Australia finished at 184 for five in 20 over.

Fiery Nannes blows India away

Image: Dirk Nannes celebrate after picking up a wicket

Chasing a stiff 185 for victory, it was important for India to get off to a good start. But that was not to be. Indian openers, Gautam Gambhir and Murali Vijay struggled with pace and bounce of the pitch.

Gambhir hit a couple of boundaries to start the proceedings for India. However, Nannes provided the first breakthrough when he induced a leading edge from Vijay and was caught at the covers by Cameron White for two.

Nannes then picked up Gambhir, when he mistimed a pull and was caught at mid-wicket by Mike Hussey for nine.

And Tait made it 13 for three, when in-form Suresh Raina was also back in the hut for just five runs.

Rohit Sharma wages lone battle

Image: Ashish Nehra is cleaned bowled

Nannes then cleaned up Yuvraj Singh with a superb yorker and Steven Smith picked up MS Dhoni to completely shut India out of the match.

India were reduced to 42 for six.

However Harbhajan Singh and Rohit Sharma were the saving grace for Team India, who stitched up crucial partnership lower down the order.

Rohit broke the shackles a bit with a six off Watson and a boundary. Rohit then hit couple of sixes of Steven Smith's over as the duo played counter attacking cricket.

Harbhajan at the other end attacked Watson hitting him for a maximum. But the off-spinner was back to the pavilion soon, when he was caught by David Hussey at mid off.

Rohit meanwhile, continued to wage the lone battle, but kept losing partners at the other end.

Zaheer Khan couldn't handle a short delivery fromTait and lobbed an easy catch to Michael Clarke and Tait finally ended India's miserable run, when he cleaned up Nehra for a duck. India were all out for 135 in 17.4 overs.