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Tue, 4th Mar 2008  Brisbane: Though they managed to put up a challenging target of 259, India would be somewhat disappointed with their effort in the second final of the CB series against Australia on Sunday. After defying the Australian pacers for a sizable passage of their innings, the visitors could not fully capitalise on the solid start they had got off to as they were restricted to 258-9 in 50 overs.
India were 175-2 in 35 overs but regular wickets never allowed India to pick up the momentum from thereon. Only Sachin Tendulkar was able to manage a big score to his name. And after his dismissal in the 40th over, it went downhill for the visitors.
Following his super century in Sydney, Tendulkar plundered another brilliant knock but fell agonizingly close to his ton. Tendulkar in his 91 smashed 7 boundaries.
India got off to a steady start after choosing to bat first on a bouncy Gabba pitch. Robin Uthappa along with Tendulkar added 94 runs for the opening partnership before the former was dismissed by Stuart Clark, who made his way in the eleven replacing Brad Hogg. Uthappa after playing an uncharacteristically patient innings departed for 30 in an attempt to clear the in-field.
Indian number three Gautam Gambhir failed for the second time in succession in the finals as a rush of blood shot undid him. Like Uthappa, Gambhir too attempted a big shot only to hold out at long-on for 15.
Yuvraj Singh after looking good in his run-a-ball 38 fell in similar fashion as India's run-rate slowed down. Tendulkar held the fort from one end but wickets falling on the other end slowed him down. Nine runs short of his century, Tendulkar fell to a soft dismissal to Clarke.
Rohit Sharma was the next to depart managing only two runs. MS Dhoni cracked a few powerful blows in his 37-ball 36 but attempted one shot too many to expose the Indian tail a bit too soon for the visitors’ liking. The lower order could not shift the momentum as the Aussie bowlers stuck to a tight line and length.
Both sides made one change each with S Sreesanth replacing an injured Ishant Sharma. In the Australian outfit, Brad Hogg made way for Stuart Clark as the home team went with a all pace attack at the Gabba.
Teams:
India: Sachin Tendulkar, Robin Uthappa, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk, capt), Irfan Pathan, Praveen Kumar, Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla, S Sreesanth.
Australia: Adam Gilchrist (wk), Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Michael Hussey, James Hopes, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clark, Nathan Bracken.  | 
