All-round Watson powers Aussie victory
Posted on Nov 02, 2009 at 14:00 | Updated Nov 02, 2009 at 22:54
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Mohali: Let down by the batsmen, India slumped to a 24-run defeat in the fourth one-dayer that not only allowed Australia to level the seven-match cricket series 2-2 but also prolonged the hosts' wait to become the number one ODI team in the world here on Monday.
Chasing 251, India got off to a flier with Virender Sehwag (30 off 19 balls) looking eager to wrap up the issue and Sachin Tendulkar (40) going great guns.
But their undoing was no less spectacular as the middle and lower could not forge a single significant partnership and the team folded for 226 in 46.4 overs.
Earlier put into bat, Australia stitched together half-centuries from Ponting (52) and White (62) and cameos from Shane Watson (49) and Michael Hussey (40) to reach 250 before wilting in 49.2 overs.
India's chase got off to a blazing start with Sehwag displaying the kind of power-hitting on which he has built his career around.
The first ball raced to the fence off his blade faster than it had arrived and it was a bad omen for Mitchell Johnson.
It was too good to last for long and relief for Australia came soon when Sehwag fell to Doug Bollinger in the seventh over and Virat Kohli (10), replacing Gautam Gambhir, squandered yet another opportunity to impress, leaving India at 78 for two.
With Sachin Tendulkar in pursuit of yet another batting milestone -- 47 runs separated him from the 17,000 mark when he walked out -- and looking in good nick, the crowd had enough to look forward to till an Ashoka de Silva howler spoiled their party.
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