Aussies cruise into semifinals

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Sunday, October 29, 2006 (Mohali):Australia cruised to a six-wicket win over India in their final league match at Mohali on Sunday to enter the semifinal of the ICC Champions Trophy.

Chasing 250 to win, Australia made 252 for four wickets in just 45.4 overs.

Damien Martyn was unbeaten on 73 and Michael Clarke was two not out at the end of the chase. Martyn was also adjudged the Man of the Match.

With this win, Australia topped Group A and will take on New Zealand in the first semifinal on November 1 at Mohali. The second semifinal in Jaipur the following day would feature West Indies and South Africa.

Blazing start

The Aussie openers got off to a blazing start with both Adam Gilchrist and Shane Watson hammering the Indian bowlers to all parts of the ground.

S Sreesanth, who replaced an injured Ajit Agarkar in the squad, got the vital breakthrough when he dismissed the Aussie vice captain, caught brilliantly by Suresh Raina. He made 23 from 24 balls and hit four boundaries.

Shane Watson and Ricky Ponting continued to torment the Indian bowlers. It was then that skipper Rahul Dravid introduced spin from both the ends and it showed immediate result, as Dinesh Mongia trapped Watson leg before for 50.

However, Damien Martyn and Ponting continue to milk the Indian attack. Sreesanth finally picked up the wicket of Ponting, caught by Sachin Tendulkar for 58.

With just 20 runs from the target, Irfan Pathan bowled Andrew Symonds.

Steady start

Earlier, electing to bat after winning the toss, India posted 249 for eight.

India got off to a steady start with Sehwag doing the bulk of the scoring.

Sachin Tendulkar started his innings on a cautious note and just when it seemed that he would open up, Glenn McGrath once again got the better of him for the seventh time.

The Bombay Bomber made just 10 runs from 26 balls before edging the simplest of catches to Adam Gilchrist.

Virender Sehwag, on the other hand, signaled his return to form with a stroke full half century. He was dropped by Michael Clarke on 10 and then survived being run out when Shane Watson missed the stumps.

He put on 43 runs with Dinesh Mongia (18) before the southpaw edged a Watson delivery to Michael Hussey at first slip.

Sehwag was trapped leg before by Mitchell Johnson for 65. His 90-ball knock included nine hits to the fence.

Rahul Dravid put on a 50 plus partnership with Mohammad Kaif and brought up his 72nd one-day fifty before being caught by Clarke at short mid wicket off the bowling of Brett Lee. He had on the previous ball, hit Lee for a four to bring up his 50. His 63-ball knock included six boundaries.

In his very next over, Lee sent back Mohammad Kaif, bowled for 30.

With the loss of two set batsmen, the acceleration of the scoring rate became difficult.

Raina, struggling with the bat, again failed to get going. He holed out to Watson at the long on fence trying to hoick Nathan Bracken out of the ground.

Irfan Pathan was also caught in the deep by Damien Martyn off Glenn McGrath and Mahendra Singh Dhoni was trapped leg before by Bracken off the last delivery of the Indian innings. He made 28 from 23 deliveries.

The Teams:

Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Nathan Bracken, Michael Clarke, Mitchell Johnson, Michael Hussey, Brett Lee, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath, Shane Watson, Andrew Symonds.

India: Rahul Dravid (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Mongia, Mohammad Kaif Mahendra Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Munaf Patel, S Sreesanth.