India snatch thrilling win over Australia

CHANDIGARH – A Mahendra Singh Dhoni-inspired India stunned Australia with a thrilling eight-run win in the fourth one-dayer here yesterday, throwing the series wide open.

Chasing India’s challenging 291-4, Australia made 283-7 to allow India to pull one back in the seven-match series and reduce the margin to 2-1. The first game was abandoned due to rain.Australia appeared to be cruising towards a win after Matthew Hayden top-scored with 92 and Andrew Symonds hit 75 but the game turned on its head through some spirited bowling by the Indians at the death.It was India’s first win over Australia in 11 matches, the last coming in Brisbane in January 2004.Left-arm seamer Rudra Pratap Singh (2-66) changed the complexion of the match in the 47th over when he clean-bowled Symonds and then ran out Brad Hogg on the next ball.Needing 16 off Zaheer Khan’s last over, James Hopes (23 not out) hit a four off the first ball but could manage only three more runs off it in the company of Brett Lee.Man of the match Dhoni made two brilliant stumpings after making a 35-ball 50 which helped India finish strongly despite a sedate start.”We were not able to chase earlier on in the series so we decided to bat first.Credit should go to Tendulkar and Ganguly for giving us a good start.Our bowlers also bowled very well in the middle overs,” Dhoni said.”We needed to be aggressive otherwise we could not have come back in the series like this.”Sachin Tendulkar anchored the innings with 79 off 119 balls while adding crucial 91 runs with Sourav Ganguly (41) and 83 with Yuvraj Singh (39).Nampa-ReutersThe first game was abandoned due to rain.Australia appeared to be cruising towards a win after Matthew Hayden top-scored with 92 and Andrew Symonds hit 75 but the game turned on its head through some spirited bowling by the Indians at the death.It was India’s first win over Australia in 11 matches, the last coming in Brisbane in January 2004.Left-arm seamer Rudra Pratap Singh (2-66) changed the complexion of the match in the 47th over when he clean-bowled Symonds and then ran out Brad Hogg on the next ball.Needing 16 off Zaheer Khan’s last over, James Hopes (23 not out) hit a four off the first ball but could manage only three more runs off it in the company of Brett Lee.Man of the match Dhoni made two brilliant stumpings after making a 35-ball 50 which helped India finish strongly despite a sedate start.”We were not able to chase earlier on in the series so we decided to bat first.Credit should go to Tendulkar and Ganguly for giving us a good start.Our bowlers also bowled very well in the middle overs,” Dhoni said.”We needed to be aggressive otherwise we could not have come back in the series like this.”Sachin Tendulkar anchored the innings with 79 off 119 balls while adding crucial 91 runs with Sourav Ganguly (41) and 83 with Yuvraj Singh (39).Nampa-Reuters