India vs Australia, 3rd ODI 2009, New Delhi
Indian lead 2-1
The Kotla Pitch in New Delhi, as usual, was slow and low with an uneven bounce. Ponting won the toss and batted first. He mentioned 225 as a par score and it turned out that it was a fair call, as India had to work hard to get there.
In a surprise move Ponting opened and put momentum on the board. He was perhaps right in opening, as this was a pitch where players could occupy but get stuck. So coming at number 3 could mean that valuable new ball overs - when the ball came on better- could have been lost. As it turned out Watson was stuck, and only got going after 10 overs. Unfortunately, Australia and Ponting himself could not push ahead in the middle overs, when Dhoni used Jadeja, Yuvraj, Raina as part time bowlers to compliment Harbhajan.
Hussey was perhaps apt for such a pitch, as he works the ball straighter and in front of square, and had the patience this pitch demanded. He struck some big shots towards the end, and to finish with a run-a-ball eighty- was way above par from both sides.
India were set a total of 230 in 50 overs.
Sehwag and Tendulkar opened and you could tell how sticky the wicket was- Sehwag made 11 of 25 balls. Keeping the ball straight always pays big rewards on slow-low pitches (ask Anil Kumble about Kotla). Aussie bowlers were willing to bang it a bit short (cannot drive/loft), but on account of the low and unpredictable bounce, playing across the line was risky.
Tendulkar scored with ease, with wristy shots on the leg side from the straight balls. Sehwag finally tried to whack a short Johnson ball, across the line but was bowled. Tendulkar was run out pushing to mid-on and running around the bowler. Gambhir tried to work Hauritz against the turn and was bowled too.
It must be said that both Ponting and Tendulkar set the tone for both the innings by providing momentum up front on a pitch which would not. If either team failed to score in the opening overs, the innings would really fall flat, when wickets fell.
At 60/3, India were in a spot of bother, but the asking rate was within control. Indian needed a 50 each from Yuvraj and Dhoni. They did better than that. But how they did it was indeed worth inspecting, especially with Yuvraj Singh not being expected to work the ball and wait.
Yuvraj and Dhoni made sure they do not play a single forcing shot across the line (avoiding the mistakes of Sehwag and Gambhir). Aussies kept it striaght and occasionally hitting the rough (the pitch was merely a spindle shaped patch). The key was that Australian bowling lacked the spinners and if they could not get wickets, even 3 runs an over from India would keep them within striking distance. Credit to Yuvraj for holding back his flair (natural game). But eventually when Australia had to take wickets, the bowlers pitched it up- which Yuvraj made the most off, with big lofted shots.
This was a classic case of tactics flowing from a good position! (par strike rate, no more wickets lost, forcing bowlers to get you... then unleash lofted shots).
This is a determined Indian side, willing to work to get into positions from which you can play your natural game.
@saumilzx
Mumbai India
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