Martyn helps Australia coast to victory

Mohali: Australia proved their credentials as world champion by conquering hosts India to sail into the semifinals of the Champions Trophy at the Punjab Cricket Association ground here yesterday.

Although India promised a lot at the start, in the end they surrendered meekly before the might of the Australians. A target of 249 was not big enough to contain the Australians, who won by six wickets in just 45.4 overs.

In the semifinals, Australia take on New Zealand on Wednesday at Mohali while South Africa will meet holders West Indies in Jaipur on Thursday.

Once again, the famed India batting line-up failed to capitalise on a good start. Instead of accelerating the run rate during the middle overs, they slowed down the process.

After dismissing the dangerous Virender Sehwag and smooth-stroking Rahul Dravid, the Australians took a firm grip on the match and never let India off the hook until the end.

Chasing a meagre runrate of five runs an over, the Australians were given the desired start by Adam Gilchrist and Shane Watson, adding 61 runs in just 8.5 overs. Except for Sreesanth, who bowled with fire to pick the wickets of Gilchrist and Ponting, none of the other Indian bowlers looked impressive.

Damien Martyn hit another match-winning unbeaten knock of 73, while Ponting shook off his bad form with the bat through a timely half century.

India, whose previous six victories against Australia came while setting the target, elected to bat first. The only time they had won chasing a target against Australia was in Sharjah during the 1998 Coca-Cola Cup when scored Tendulkar scored a breezy 134.

The very fact that India had lost four of their last 20 encounters against Australia demanded a determined effort from them.

The Indian opening pair was welcomed to the crease by thunderous applause and beating of the drums.

Out-of-form opener Sehwag, who had only scored 54 runs from his last six one-dayers, rose to the challenge and went on to hit an elegant 65.

Tendulkar played second fiddle after finding Sehwag in full flow. Sehwag unleashed his cuts and drives to provide a quick start.

But this glorious phase lasted a mere 45 minutes. Glenn McGrath forced Tendulkar to edge into the gloves of wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist for 10. Gilchrist thus became the first wicketkeeper to take 400 victims.

Yielding to popular demand, India tried out Dinesh Mongia instead of Irfan Pathan at No 3 position. Mongia, lasted only 30 balls to score 18 runs.

Another long partnership was the need of the hour. Sehwag, who was in full flow, fell to a ball which pitched on the middle and straightened to trap him leg before. This has not been the first time that he has fallen to such a delivery.

Dravid promptly took up the responsibility of swelling India's total and found a good partner in Mohammad Kaif too. But Australia allowed the pair to add only fifty runs. Brett Lee struck two vital bowls at a time when the Australians were looking for a break.

He dismissed Dravid, who on completing his 72nd One-day half century, looked set for a century. Lee also uprooted Kaif's off stump with a beauty.

Scoreboard

India:
V. Sehwag lbw b Johnson 65
S. Tendulkar c Gilchrist b McGrath 10
D. Mongia c Hussey b Watson 18
R. Dravid c Clarke b Lee 52
Mohammad Kaif b Lee 30
M. Dhoni lbw b Bracken 28
S. Raina c Watson b Bracken 13
Irfan Pathan c Martyn b McGrath 10
H. Singh not out 5
Extras: (lb5, nb4, w9) 18
Total (for eight wickets, 50 overs) 249
Fall of wickets: 1-46 (Tendulkar), 2-89 (Mongia), 3-126 (Sehwag), 4-186 (Dravid), 5-197 (Kaif), 6-224 (Raina), 7-239 (Pathan), 8-249 (Dhoni).
Bowling: Lee 10-1-54-2 (nb3, w1), McGrath 10-1-34-2, Bracken 10-2-56-2 (w1), Johnson 8-0-33-1 (nb1), Watson 9-0-48-1 (w7), Symonds 3-0-19-0

Australia:
A. Gilchrist c Raina b Sreesanth 23
S. Watson lbw b Mongia 50
R. Ponting c Tendulkar b Sreesanth 58
D. Martyn not out 73
A. Symonds b Pathan 20
M. Clarke not out 2
Extras: (lb8, w18) 26
Total (for four wickets, 45.4 overs) 252
Fall of wickets: 1-61 (Gilchrist), 2-111 (Watson), 3-185 (Ponting), 4-230 (Symonds)
Bowling: Pathan 7-0-42-1 (w3), Patel 8.4-0-61-0 (w8), Sreesanth 8-1-43-2 (w3), Harbhajan 10-0-49-0 (w2), Mongia 9-0-36-1 (w2), Sehwag 3-0-13-0.

Semifinals:
November 1: Australia vs New Zealand, Mohali
November 2: South Africa vs West Indies, Jaipur.